TUE 

LIFE 



or 




/ 



BARON FREDERIOK TRMCR; 



CONTAINING 



HIS ADVENTUKES, 



AND ALSO 



HIS EICESSIYE SUFFERINGS DURING TEN lEARS IMPRISONMENT 

At the Fortress of Magdeburgh, by Command of 

FREDERICK THE GREAT, KING OF PRUSSIA. 

TRANSLATED FROM TUK FRENCH 

BY THOMAS HOLCROFT. 




ALBANY: 
PUBLISHED BY J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STllEE T. 

1853. 



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INTRODUCTION. 



Among all the heroes of imprisonment over whom the most of 
us have sighed in our childhood, none have made a deeper im- 
pression than the subject of this work. Besides his own 
memoirs, which we now present in a new form, several biogra- 
phers, at different times, have found sufficient additional par- 
ticulars of his eventful life from which to form several large 
volumes. The latest of these is Maj. Whittingham, who, in his 
Personal Recollections of a Ten Months^ Residence in Berlin, 
published in 1849, says: 

" Whilst a handsome young officer, he attracted the regards 
and won the affections of Frederick's youngest and favorite 
sister, the Princess Amelia, who was as much distinguished by 
her beauty and wit as by her exalted rank. Alas, she was also 
a philosopher like her brother. Her affections, therefore, had 
their full play in the absence of all religious restraint. 

" D baff fie ettJtg grilnen bleibe, 

3)ie fd)one jett ber jungen liebe ! '' 
Or, 

" Oh! that ever fresh from below 

The course of youthful love might flow." 

" But Shakspeare has said that that course * never did run 
smooth,' and the present case was no exception to the illustrious 
rule. The Great Frederick decidedly objected to his sister be- 
coming Mrs. Trenck. He, at the same time, wished to avoid 
all scandal, and to combine these objects no time was to be lost. 
He therefore gave Trenck, who was his own aid-de-camp, strong 
hints to mind and mend his conduct. His hints were thrown 
away. Who that has been young himself can wonder at the 
young lieutenant's blindness and obstinacy? It is not every day 
2 



6 Introduction. 



that a beautiful, witty and accomplished princess sacrifices every 
thing for the love of a simple gentleman. And was the favored 
object to risk nothing in return? The secret interviews continued, 
but were, in fact, no secret to the penetrating eye of an all- 
powerful king. Arrests for pretended military crimes were the 
next measures adopted to warn the lover and to protect the lady 
in spite of herself. But Trenck was no sooner freed from these 
restraints than he again flew for consolation to the arms of his 
illustrious mistress. A longer incarceration was next decreed. 
From this, however, Trenck made his escape, and fled to a town 
beyond the Prussian dominions. Therein his indignation against 
W'hat he styled Frederick's tyranny, he soon forgot what he owed 
to one who had sacrificed for him every thing that the world holds 
dear. In his blind anger he irreparably injured his royal mistress. 

He 

' Robbed her of that which not enriched him, 
And left her poor indeed.' 

He had the audacity to display at a large dinner party the por- 
trait of the Princess Amelia. Frederick could, therefore, no 
longer pretend ignorance of her conduct, nor endeavor to provide 
her with a suitable husband. Nothing but vengeance remained; 
and for this the imprudence of Trenck soon furnished the enraged 
monarch with an opportunity which he did not neglect. The 
rest is told by Trenck himself, who as regards the Princess 
Amelia, endeavors to atone by his silence in his book for his 
verbal garrulity. But it was too late; he had betrayed the 
secret; and his subsequently affected reserve was a work of 
supererogation. 

" After the death of Frederick, and in the closing winter of 
their lives, the unhappy lovers again met; he a broken down old 
man, she an unusually plain old woman; for in her deep despair 
she had, while still young, purposely destroyed her beauty. The 
interview between them — they who had parted so young, so 
beautiful, so devoted to each other — must have been strange and 
affecting. She had always remained faithful to her absent or 
imprisoned lover; and this fact throws a redeeming grace over 
the weakness of her youth, and gives an additional interest to her 
misfortunes. Frederick, who respected his sister's abilities, M^as 
up to the period of his death kinder and more attentive to her 
than to any other member of his family. She, on the other hand, 
probably aware that he, after his own fashion, had acted all 
along for her advantage, returned his affection, and in her life of 
sorrow she appeared to have no other consolation than the fra- 
ternal kindness of one of the most cold-hearted beinafs who ever 



Introduction, 



existed. A more melancholy history is scarcely to be found even 
in the immortal fiction of ofenius." 

We are not aware that the elaborate German and French 
biographies of Trenck have been translated, but the sim{)le 
narrative of his own life which follows, is, as far as it goes, a 
faithful portraiture of his imprudence and obstinacy. Possessed 
of a remarkably fine person, a bodily strength almost Heiculean, 
a good deal of talent, but a hot temper, his life was little else 
than a series of dangers without motive, and misfortunes scarcely 
deserving compassion. 

He distinguished himself very early by his precocity; in his 
thirteenth year he was entered as a student of law and belles- 
lettres at the university of his native place, and passed the usual 
examination with great distinction. One year later, he fought a 
duel with one of the most celebrated swordsmen of Konigsberg, 
whom he wounded and disarmed. In his sixteenth year, his 
kinsman, who was an officer in the Prussian service, took him to 
Berlin, where his birth and advantages of person recomujended 
him to the king, Frederick the Great, who had a passion for 
"tall fellows,"' immediately appointed him cadet, and soon after- 
wards, having himself upon one occasion been surprised at the 
young man's talents, he promoted him to a cornetcy in his body 
guard, at that time considered the most splendid and gallant 
regiment in Europe. The king's favor and his own amiable 
manners procured him many friends at court, but at the same time 
excited envy and malice. Scarcely less eager of literary than 
martial renown, the young king was then striving to render 
Berlin one of the capitals of learning and science, by attracting 
men of that character to his court, and heaping honors upon 
them. 

Trenck became, through the favor which he enjoyed, the 
acquaintance and the friend of Frederick's philosophers, Voltaire, 
Maupertius, and others, whose familiarity was little calculated to 
abate his native presumption. The distinction which he enjoyed 
presently blinded him to the imprudent point of aspiring to please 
the young princess Amelia, the pretty and indiscreet sister of 
that foolish Margravine of Barenth, whose absurd memoirs give 
us an account so curious of that old brute, the elder Frederick, 
and his doings; how he starved his children, beat the officers of 
his palace, and, to solace their starvation, banged his queen and 
progeny. One would not think this just the education to make 
princesses romantic; yet Amelia must either, in the ignorance in 
which she was kept, have read, what serves so admirably to 
deepen the ignorance of young ladies, novels, or the learned 
company her brother afterwards kept, infected her with liberalism, 



8 Introduction. 



and she encouraged Trenck until the silly catastrophe, told by 
Major Whittingham, was brought about. 

The foundation of his cruel fate is said to have been laid at a 
ball given at the royal castle at Stettin, in celebration of the 
marriage of the king's eldest sister to the king of Sweden. It 
was here that the princess Amelia is said to have noticed him, to 
have invited him to see her at her private apartments, and to 
have cherished a violent passion for him ever afterwards. In an 
unguarded moment he is said to have boasted of the favors shown 
him by his royal mistress. This was reported to the king, who, 
although he did not think proper to punish his indiscretion, took 
a decided dislike to him, and watched every opportunity of visit- 
ing him most severely for trifling faults in military discipline. 
This story, embellished with many romantic incidents, originates 
principally with French writers, who in many instances contradict 
themselves as to dates and other matters. That an imprudent 
attachment between Trenck and the princess existed, can not be 
doubted; but that Frederick, violent and passionate as he was, 
in all his private concerns, should have pretended blindness in so 
important a matter, and should have continued to bestow favors 
upon a man who had dishonored his sister's name, is difficult to 
credit. 

It would be supererogatory to attempt to forestall the narrative 
by a recapitulation of the principal events in the life of Trenck; 
it is only proposed to present a brief outline of what seems to 
have been settled upon by subsequent writers of his eventful 
history, tending to give a more intelligent understanding of his 
own account of himself. 

During the war between Prussia and Austria he was placed 
on the king's staff, and distinguished himself on several occasions, 
particularly when his cousin, Franz Trenck, attempted to take 
the king prisoner by surprise at Collin. A short time afterwards 
his cousin addressed him a letter, returning him some of his 
horses, which had been captured in a foraging expedition. This 
circumstance he mentioned in presence of Col. Jachinsky, who 
owed him a considerable sum of money, and who at Berlin was 
known to be his secret enemy. This man artfully persuaded him 
to a correspondence with his cousin in the Austrian service, he 
himself undertaking to forward the letters by means of his mistress, 
the wife of the Saxon resident, Madame de Bossart. Several 
letters passed in this way open, through Jachinsky's hands, until 
he got one in w^hich some highly imprudent expressions were 
found, which he immediately caused to be laid before the king. 
The result was that Trenck was immediately cashiered and sent 
prisoner to the fortification of Glatz; not by a formal sentence, 



Introduction. 



but by an order from the king, who expressed his intention at 
the time to keep him there for one year; evidence enough, it 
would seem, that he only meant to punish his correspondence 
with the enemy, and no other or greater crime. At first he was 
treated according to his rank, and with all possible indulgence; 
but when it was discovered that he had several times, by bribes, 
attempted and nearly effected his escape, he was placed in close 
confinement. On the 24th December, 1746, he nevertheless suc- 
ceeded in making his escape, by the assistance of and together 
with Major Schell. With great fatigue and danger he reached 
his mother's residence in Brandenburgh, whence he proceeded to 
Vienna, amply furnished with money. A strict investigation 
was ordered by the king, for the purpose of finding out how he 
had effected his escape; the result of which was the discovery 
that large sums had been remitted to him by the princess Amelia. 
It is highly probable that this was the first time that Frederick 
knew of his sister's attachment, and from this period must be 
dated his intense and obdurate hatred of Trenck. In the mean 
time Trenck had got into fresh troubles at Vienna, which he 
himself principally attributes to the intrigues of his cousin Franz, 
notwithstanding he was in prison at the time on a criminal 
charge. 

He left Vienna in disgust, went to Russia, where, through the 
recommendation of the English ambassador (to whom Frederick 
himself had introduced him at Berlin, under the flattering title of 
Metador ma jeunesse), he was well received, and appointed 
captain of a troop of hussars. Here he might have lived peace- 
ably and content, being in high favor with the empress, and 
having acquired considerable wealth through a legacy of a Russian 
princess; but the Prussian ambassador. Count Goctz, left nothing 
undone to injure him, pretending that he acted thus in accordance 
with instructions from the king his master. 

His cousin at Vienna, who died in 1749, had made him his 
heir. Upon this he determined to leave Russia; and after having 
visited Sweden, Denmark and Holland, he returned to Vienna to 
take possession of his inheritance. Fresh difficulties awaited 
him there. His cousin's estates were under sequestration, and 
after vexatious and expensive suits he agreed to a compromise, 
by which he received 75,000 florins and the appointment of a 
captaincy in a regiment of hussars. 

In 1758 he had the folly to go to Dantzic,in order to settle there, 
with his family, the patrimony left by his mother, lately dead. 
Philosopher Frederick, besides being one of the least forgiving 
of mankind, was in the habit of keeping his eyes open, and had 
by no means lost sight of his fugitive ex-favorite. Trenck re- 



10 Introduction. 



ceived some hints of bis impending danger, and v.'as on the point 
of embarking for Sweden, when he was seized by a party of 
hussars, and taken to Berlin. He was at first treated well, but 
his intemperate language hurried on his fate, and he was sent to 
JVlagdeburg to cultivate an acquaintance with mice and spiders, 
which were to be his chief society for many a year. 

His sufferings, and his bold, desperate and almost successful 
attempts to escape, may be read in his own memoirs. The king 
had determined that he should never be set free while he lived, 
and after two soldiers had suffered death for conniving at his 
attempts to regain his liberty, and several other plots had been 
discovered, a prison was at last built on purpose for him, in which 
he was chained to the walls with fetters of sixty-seven pounds 
weight. Here he remained four years, when the intercession of 
his relatives, and those of Amelia too, it is presumed, succeeded 
in softening Frederick's obduraracy, and on the 24th of December, 
1763 (some authorities say 1774), he was released upon con- 
dition of leaving the king-dom. 

He seems next to have fixed himself at Aix-la-Chapelle, where 
he married the daughter of one of the burgomasters. This might 
seem incongruous; but if one levels up to princesses, why not 
down to a burgomaster's daughter? It was here, probably, that 
he wrote the story of his captivity. Indeed he dabbled in several 
things beside biography, for he had soothed in part his confine- 
ment by writing verses — a vice which once contracted is seldom 
wholly recovered from; dabbled in politics; published a satire 
against Frederick under the title of The Macedonian Hero; 
entered into the wine trade, and set up for a newspaper writer. 
This pleasant diversity of occupations ended, rather naturally, in 
a sort of bankruptcy. After this new misfortune, he wrote 
articles of rather a democratic tendency for several periodicals. 
He also obtained from the kindness of Maria Theresa some 
diplomatic employment and a pension for his wife. At the death 
of the empress he retired to his castle at Zwarback, in Hungary, 
where he occupied himself for some six years in agricultural 
pursuits. In 1787, after the death of Frederick the Great, he 
published his memoirs, for the copy right of which he received a 
very large sum. From that time he became a distinguished man 
in the world. His book was translated into almost all European 
languages; the ladies at Paris, Berlin and Vienna wore rings, 
necklaces, bonnets and gowns, a la Trenck, and not less than 
seven different theatrical pieces, in which he was the hero, were 
brought out on the French stage. 

In the following year, after an exile of forty years, he was 
allowed to revisit Prussia, and once more to see his ancient in- 



Inlroductioih. H 



amorata. Time and suffering had in the mean time made Amelia 
wise. It is singular indeed, what opposite effects may flow from 
the same cause; reading the romances in which other folks are 
actors, makes one sillier and sillier; but acting a tragic novel of 
our own makes us sadly wise. Not even that, however, can 
make every body wise; Trenck himself must have still been as 
light-brained as ever; whence the inference is fair that he had 
suffered comparatively little, and that his love of the princess was 
no affair of the heart. At any event, incorrigible by either duels, 
or philosophy or dungeons, or wine-selling, or farming, or getting 
broke, or even turning newspaper editor (which more than any 
thing else, cures one's illusions), Trenck next, at above the age 
of sixty, took a fancy, it was to be his last, for a revolution. 

Although he was kindly received at Berlin, by the successor 
of the great Frederick, it seems that he was disappointed in his 
expectations; for he returned to Aix-la-Chapelle, where he com- 
menced the publication of a weekly paper called UAmi des 
Homines (the friend of men), in which he proclaims himself a 
friend of the new French doctrines. The first consequence of 
his publication was a loss of the pension which the empress had 
given to his burgo-baroness. Next came a renewal of his old 
diversion of going to prison. This time, however, he had not to 
deal with philosophic kings; so he was soon let out. Satiated, 
no doubt, of chains, he now resolved to go and take his fill of 
emancipation; he made his way in 1791 to Paris. Here, as one 
who had been so much a victim of despotism, he was received 
with delight. For his own part, being above any feeling of 
jealousy toward any rival reputation, he appears to have sought 
and contracted a very particular intimacy with Latude, the man 
who had been thirty-five years a prisoner in the Bastile. He 
joined a Jacobin club, and was afterwards a zealous adherent of 
the Mountain party; but in 1793, on his offering to lead against 
the Prussian refugees and republicans, he was suspected of being 
a Prussian spy. No doubt he would have been equally suspected 
if his conduct had been just the opposite. He was thrown into 
his old mansion, a prison; but there being no proof found of his 
being a spy, they accused him of entering into some plot in his 
dungeon, and brought him to the guillotine on the 25lh of July, 
1794. Yet on the scaffold, and in his sixty-eighth year, he gave 
proofs of his ungovernable passions. He harrangued the sur- 
rounding multitude, and when his head was on the block, he once 
more attempted to give utterance to his vehemence, and the ex- 
ecutioner had to hold him by his silver locks to meet the fatal i/ 
stroke. He was still as strong, it is said, and as fresh as a man 
of thirty. 



THE LIFE 



BARON FREDERICK TRENCK. 



I was born in Konigsberg, in Prussia, February 16, 1726, of 
one of the most ancient families of the country. My father, a 
knight of the military order, lord of Great Sharlack, Shackulack 
and Meicken, and major-general of cavalry, died in 1740, after 
having received eighteen wounds in the Prussian service. My 
mother, descended from the house of Derschau, was daughter of 
the president of the high court at Konigsberg. She had two 
brothers, generals of infantry, and a third, minister of state and 
postmaster-general at Berlin. After my father's death in 1740, 
she married count Lostonge, lieutenant-colonel in the Kiow regi- 
ment of cuirassiers, WMth whom, leaving Prussia, she went and 
resided at Breslau. I had two brothers and a sister. My youngest 
brother was taken by my mother into Silesia; the other was also 
a cornet in this last named regiment of Kiow, and my sister was 
married to the only son of the aged general Valdow, who quitted 
the service, and with whom she lived in Brandenburgh on his 
estates. 

My ancestors, both of the male and female line, are famous in 
the chronicles of the north, among the ancient Teutonic knights, 
who conquered Courland, Prussia and Livonia. 

While a boy, I was enterprising in all the tricks of boys, and 
exercised my wit in crafty excuses; the warmth of my passions, 
then and afterwards, gave a satiric, biting cast to my writings. 



14 Life of Baron Trenck. 



whence it has been imagined, by those who knew but little of 
me, I was a dangerous man; though I am conscious this was a 
hasty and false judgment. I kept no vicious company; was never, 
during the whole course of my life, intoxicated; was no gamester, 
no consumer of time in idleness nor brutal pleasures; but devoted 
many hundred laborious nights to make myself useful to my 
country; yet I was punished with a severity too cruel even for 
the most worthless or most villainous. 

I shall say little more of the first years of my life, except that 
my father, who had a tender affection for me, took special care 
of my education; sent meat the age of thirteen to the university 
at Konigsberg, where, under the tuition of Kowalosky, my pro- 
gress was rapid. There were fourteen other noblemen of the 
best families in the same house, and under the same master. 

In November, 1742, the king sent his adjutant general, Baron 
Lotum, who was related to my mother, to Konigsberg, with whom 
I dined at my grandfather's. He conversed much with me, and 
after various questions, meant to discover what my talents and 
inclinations were, he demanded, as if in a joke, whether I had 
any inclination to go- with him to Berlin, and serve my country, 
as my ancestors had ever done. Inflamed with the desire of dis- 
tinguishing myself, I listened with rapture to the proposition, 
and in a few days departed for Potsdam. 

On the morrow after my arrival, I was presented to the king, 
as indeed I had before been, in the year 1740, with the character 
of being then one of the most hopeful youths of the university. 
My reception was most flattering; the justness of my replies to 
the questions he put, my height, figure and confidence, pleased 
him, and I soon obtained permission to enter as a cadet in his 
guards, with promise of quick preferment. 

The body guard formed, at this time, a model and school for 
the Prussian cavalry. It consisted of one single squadron, of men 
selected from the w^hole army, whose uniform w^as the most 
splendid in all Europe. Two thousand rix dollars were necessary 
to equip an officer; the cuirass was wholly plated with silver; 
and the horse furniture and accoutrements, alone, cost four hun- 
dred rix dollars. 



Life of Baron Trcnck. 16 



There are no soldieis in the world N\ho undergo so much as 
this body guard; for during the time I wtis in the service of 
Frederick, I often had not eight hours sleep in eight days. , 
Exercise began at four in the morning, and expeiiments were i 
made of all the alterations the king meifnt to introduce in his { 
cavalry. Ditches of four, five, six feet, and still wider, were 
leaped, till that some one broke his neck; hedges in like manner , . . ^ 
were freed, and his horses ran careers, meeting each other full in 1 \^ 
a kind of lists of more than half a league in length. We had 
often, in these our exercises, several men or horses killed or 
wounded. 

I can not give a stronger picture of this service, than by say- 
ing that the body guard lost more men and hoises in one year's 
peace, than during the following year they did in two battles. 

I had scarcely been six weeks a cadet, before the king took 
me aside one day after the parade, and having examined me near 
half an hour on various subjects, commanded me to come and 
speak to him on the morrow. 

His intention was to find whether the account that had been 
given him of my memory had not been exaggerated; and that 
he might be convinced, he gave me the names of fifty soldiers to 
learn by rote, which I did in five minutes. He next repeated 
the subjects of two letters, which I immediately composed in 
French and Latin: the one I wrote, the other dictated. He next 
ordered me to trace, with promptitude, a landscape trora nature, 
which I executed with equal success; and he then gave me a 
cornet's commission in his body guards. 

Thus did I remain a cadet only six weeks, and few Prussians 
can vaunt, under the reign of Frederick, of equal good fortune. 

The king not only presented me with a commission, but 
equipped me most splendidly for the service. Thus did I sud- 
denly find myself a courtier, and an officer in the finest, bravest 
and best taught corps in Europe. My good fortune seemed 
unlimited, when in the month of August, 1743, the King selected 

me to go and instruct the Silesian cavalry in the new manoeuvres: 

'a 
an honor never before granted to a youth of eighteen. 

I have already said we were garrisoned at Berlin during llie 



16 Life of Baron Trenck. 



winter, where the officer 's table was at courtj and, as my re- 
putation had preceded me, no person whatever could be better 
received there, or live more pleasantly. 

I had hitherto remained ignorant of love, and had been terri- 
fied from illicit commerce, by beholding the dreadful objects at 
the hospital at Potsdam. During the winter of 1743, the nup- 
tials of his majesty's sister were held, who was married to the 
king of Sweden, where she is at present queen dowager, mother 
of the reigning Gustavus. I, as officer of my corps, had 
the honor to mount guard and escort her as far as Stettin. 
Here did my heart first feel a passion of which in the course of 
my history, I shall have frequent occasion to speak. The object 
of my love was one whom I can only remember at present with 
reverence; and, as I WTite not romance, but facts, I shall briefly 
say, ours was mutually the first fruits of affection, and that to 
this hour, I regret no misfortune, no misery, with which, from a 
stock so noble, my destiny Avas interwoven. Amid the tumult 
inseparable to occasions like these, on which it was my duty to 
maintain order, a thief had the address to steal my watch, and 
cut away a part of the gold fringe which hung from the waist- 
coat of my uniform, and escaped unperceived. This accident 
brought on me the raillery of my comrades; and the lady alluded 
to thence took occasion to console me, by saying I should be 
no loser. Her words were accompanied by a look I could not 
misunderstand, and a few days afterwards I thought myself the 
happiest of mortals. The name, however, of this high born 
lady is a secret, which must descend with me to the grave; and 
though ray silence concerning this incident leaves a void in my 
life, and indeed throws obscurity over a part of it, which might 
else be clear, I would much rather incur this reproach, than be- 
come ungrateful towards my best friend and benefactress. To 
her conversation, to her prudence, to the power by which she 
riveted my affections wholly to herself, am I indebted for the 
improvement and polishing of my bodily and mental qualities. 
She never despised, betrayed, or abandoned me, even in the 
deepest of my distress; and my children alone, on my death- 
bed, shall be taught the name of her to whom they ow'e the 



Life of Baron Trenck. 17 



preservation of their father and, consequently, their own ex- 
istence. 

I lived at this time, perfectly happy at Berlin, and highly 
esteemed. The king testified his approbation at every oppor- 
tunity; my mistress supplied me with more money than I could 
expend, and I was presently the best equipped, and made the 
greatest figure of any officer in the whole corps. The style in 
which I lived was remarked, for I had only received, from my 
father's heritage, the estate of great Scharlack; the rent of 
which was only 800 dollars a year, which was far from sufficient 
to supply my theK expenses. My amour, in the mean time, re- 
mained a secret from the best and most intimate friends. Twice 
was ray absence from Potzdam and Charlottenberg discovered, 
and I was put under arrest; but the king seemed satisfied with 
the excuses I made, under the pretext of having been hunting, 
and smiled as he granted my pardon. 

Never did the days of youth glide with more apparent success 
and pleasure, than during these my first year at Berlin. This 
good fortune was, alas ! of short duration. Many are the incidents 
I might relate, but these I shall omit. My other adventures are 
numerous enough, without mingling such as may any way seem 
foreign to the subject. In this gloomy history of my life, I 
would paint myself to the world as I am, and by the recital of 
my sufferings afford a memorable example, and interest the heart 
of sensibility. I would also show how my fatal destiny has de- 
prived my children of an immense fortune; and, though I want 
an hundred thousand men to enforce and ensure my rights, I will 
still show my heirs they are incontestible. 

In the beginning of September, 1744, war again broke out 
between the houses of Austria and Prussia. We marched with 
all expedition towards Prague, traversing Saxony without 
opposition. I will not relate, in this place, what the great 
Frederick said to us, with evident emotion, when surrounded by 
all his officers, on the morning of our departure from Potzdam. 

Should any one be desirous of writing the lives of him and 
his opponent, Maria Theresa, without flattery and without fear, 
let him apply to me, and I will relate anecdotes most surprising 



18 Life, of Baron Trench. 



on this subject, unknown to all but myself, and which never 
must appear under my own name. 

Here I must recount an event that happened, which became the 
souice of all my misfortunes. I must entreat my readers to pay 
the utmost attention to this, since the error, if innocence can be 
error, was the cause that the most faithful and the best of sub- 
jects became bewildered in scenes of wretchedness, and was the 
victim of misery, from his 19th to the 60th year of his age. I 
dare presume, this true narrative, supported by testimonies the 
most authentic, may fully vindicate my present honor, and my 
future memory. 

Francis, Baron of Trenck, was the son of my father's brother, 
consequently my cousin german. I shall speak, hereafter, of the 
singular events of his life. Being a commander of pandours in 
the Austrian service, and previously wounded in Bavaria, in the 
year 1743, he wrote to my mother, informing her he intended 
me, her eldest son, for his universal legatee. This letter, to 
which I returned no answer, was sent to me at Potzdam. I was 
so satisfied with ray situation, and had such numerous reasons to 
be, considering the kindness wath which the king treated me, 
that I would not have exchanged my good fortune for all the 
treasures of the great Mogul. 

On the 12th of Feb., 1744, being at Berlin, I was in company 
with Capt. Jaschinsky, commander of the body guard, the captain 
of which ranks as colonel in the army, together with Lieut. 
Studniz and Cornet Wagnitz. The latter was my field comrade, 
and is at present commander general of the cavalry of Hesse 
Cassel. The Austrian Trenck became the subject of conversa- 
tion, and Jaschinsky asked if I was his kinsman; 1 answered, 
yes, and immediately mentioned his having made me his 
imiversal heir. "And what answer have you returned?" said 
Jaschinsky — " None at all." 

The whole company then observed, that in a case like the 
present, I was much to blame not to answer; that the least I 
could do would be to thank him for his good wnshes, and entreat 
a continuance of them Jaschinsky further added, "Desire him 



Life of Baron Trench. 19 



to send you some of his fine Hungarian horses for your own use, 
and give me the letter; I will convey it to him, by means of M. 
Bossart, legation counsellor of the Saxon embassy, but on 
condition that you will give me one of the horses. The cor- 
respondence is a family, and not a state affair; beside that, I will 
be answerable for the consequences." 

I immediately took my commander's advice, and began to 
write; and had those who suspected me thought proper to make 
the least inquiry into these circumstances, the four witnesses, 
who read what I wrote, could have attested my innocence, and 
rendered it indubitable. I gave my letter, open, to Jaschinsky, 
who sealed and sent it himself. 

I must omit none of the incidents concerning this letter, it 
being the sole cause of all my sufferings. I shall, therefore, here 
relate an event w^hich was the first occasion of the unjust sus- 
picions entertained against me. 

One of my grooms, with two led horses, was, among others, 
taken by the pandours of Trenck, 

When I returned to the camp, I was to accompany the king 
on a reconnoitering party. My horse w^as too tired, and I had 
no other; I informed him of my embarrassment, and his majesty 
immediately made me a present of a fine English courser. 

Some days after, I was exceedingly astonished to see my 
groom return with my two horses, and a pandour trumpeter, 
who brought me a letter containing nearly the following words; 

" The Austrian Trenck is not at war with the Prussian Trenck, 
but on the contrary, is happy to have recovered the horses from 
his hussars, and returned them to whom they first belonged, &,c." 

I went the same day to pay my respects to the kmg, who, 
receiving me with great coldness, said, "Since your cousin has 
returned you your own horses, you have no more need of mine." 

There were too many who envied me, to suppose these words 
would escape repetition. The return of the horses seems infinitely 
to have increased that suspicion Frederick entertained against me, 
and therefore became one of the principal causes of my mis- 
fortunes; it is for this reason that I dwell upon such like small 
incidents, they being necessary for my own justification, and, 



20 Life of Baron Trenck. 



were it possible, for that of the king. My innocence is indeed 
at present universally acknowledged by the court, the army, and 
the whole nation, who all mention the injustice I suffered with 
pity, and the fortitude with which it was endured with surprise. 

We marched for Silesia, to enter on our second campaign, 
which to the Prussians was as bloody and murderous as it was 
glorious. 

I approach that epocha when ray own misfortunes began, and 
when the sufferings of martyrdom attended me from my youth 
till my hairs grew gray. 

A few days after the battle of Soran, the usual camp postman 
brought me a letter from my cousin Trenck, the colonel of pan- 
dours, dated at Essex, four months back, of which the following 
is a copy: 

" Your letter of the 12th of February from Berlin, informs me 
you desire to have some Hungarian horses. On these you would 
come and attack me and ray pandours. I saw with pleasure 
during the last campaign, that the Prussian Trenck was also a 
good soldier; and that I might give you some proofs of my attach- 
ment I then returned the horses which my men had taken. If, 
however, you wish to have Hungarian horses, you must take 
mine in like manner, from me in the field of battle, or should 
you think fit, come and join one who will receive you with open 
arms, like a friend and son, and who will procure you every 
advantage you can desire," &c. 

At first, I w^as terrified at reading this letter, yet could not 
help smiling. Cornet Wagenitz, now general in chief of the 
Hesse Cassel forces, and Lieutenant Grothausen, both now alive 
and then present, were my camp comrades. I gave them the 
letter to read; they laughed at its contents. It was determined 
to show it to our superior officer, Jaschinsky, on a promise of 
secresy, and it was accordingly shown him within an hour after 
it was received. 

The reader will be so kind as to recollect that as I have before 
said, it was this Col. Jaschinsky, who, on the 12th of February, 
the same year, at Berlin, prevailed on me to write to the 
Austrian Trenck, my cousin; that he received the letter open, 



Life of Baron Trenck. 21 



and undertook to send it according to its address; also, that in 
this letter I, in jest, had asked him to send me some Hungarian 
horses, and when they came, had promised one to Jaschinsky. 
He read the letter with an air of some surprise; we laughed, 
and it being whispered through the army, that in consequence of 
our late victory, detached corps would be sent into Hungary, 
Jaschinsky said, " We shall now go and take Hungarian horses 
for ourselves." Here the conversation ended, and I returned, 
little suspecting the future consequences, to my tent. 

Jaschinsky was, at this time, one of the king's favorites; his 
spy over the army, a tale bearer, an inventor of lies and wicked 
calumnies. Some years after the event of which I am now 
speaking, the king was obliged to break and banish him the 
country. 

He was then also the paramour of the beauteous Madam Bos- 
sart, wife of the Saxon resident at Berlin, and there can be little 
doubt but that this false letter, was, by her means, conveyed to 
some Saxon or Austrian post office, and thence according to its 
address sent to me. He had daily opportunities of infusing sus-' 
picions into the king's mind concerning me, and, unknown to 
me, pursuing his diabolical plan. 

Further, we had quarrelled during our first campaign, because 
he had beaten one of my servants; we even were proceeding to 
fight with pistols, had not Colonel Winterfield interfered, and 
amicably ended our quarrel. The Lithuanian is by nature ob- 
stinate and revengeful; and from that day I have reason to 
believe he sought my destruction. 

God only knows what were the means he took to excite the 
king's suspicions; for it is incredible that Frederick, considering 
his well known professions of public justice, should treat me in 
the manner he did, without hearing, without examination, and 
without a court-martial. This, to me, has ever remained a mys- 
tery, which the king alone was able to explain; he afterwards 
was convinced I was innocent; but my sufferings had been too 
cruel, the miseries he had inflicted, too horrible for me ever to 
hope for compensation. 
3 



22 Life of Baron Trench. 



A man of my rank, having once unjustly suffered, and having 
the power of making his sufferings known, must either be highly 
rewarded, or still more unjustly punished. My name and injuries 
will ever stain the annals of Frederick the Greatj even those 
who read this book, will, perhaps, suppose I, from political 
motives of hope or fear, have sometimes concealed truth, by 
endeavoring to palliate his conduct. 

It must ever remain incomprehensible, that a monarch so clear- 
sighted himself, the daily witness of my demeanor, one well 
acquainted with mankind, and conscious I wanted neither money, 
honor, nor hope of future prefermentj I say it is incomprehensible 
he should really suppose me guilty. I take God to witness, and 
those who knew me in prosperity and misfortune, I never har- 
bored a thought of betraying my country. How was it possible 
to suspect me? I was neither madman nor idiot. In my eighteenth 
year I was a cornet of the body guard, adjutant to the king, and 
possessed his favor and confidence in the highest degree. His 
presents to me in one year amounted to fifteen hundred dollars. 
I kept seven horses, four men in livery j I was valued, distin- 
guished and beloved by the mistress of my soul. My relations 
held high offices, both civil and military; I was even fanatic- 
ally devoted to my king and country, and had nothing to wish 
for. 

That I should become thus wretched, in consequence of this 
unfortunate letter, is equally wonderful; it came by the public 
post. Had there been any criminal correspondence, my kinsman 
certainly would not have chosen this mode of conveyance, since 
it is well known all such letters are opened; nor could I act more 
openly. My colonel read the letter I wrote, and also that which 
I received, immediately after it was brought. 

The day after the receipt of this letter, I was, as I have before 
said, unheard, unaccused, unjudged, conducted like a criminal 
from the army by fifty hussars, and imprisoned in the fortress of 
Glatz. I was allowed to take three horses and my servants, but 
my whole equipage was left behind, which I never saw more, 
and which became the booty of Jaschinsky. My commission was 
given to Cornet Shatzel, and I cashiered without knowing why. 



Life of Baron Trench. 23 



There were no legal inquiries madej all was done by the king's 
command. 

I once more repeat, I was brought to the citadel of Glatz; I 
was not, however, thrown jnto a dungeon, but imprisoned in a 
chamber of the officer of the guard, was allowed my servant to 
wait on me, and permitted to walk on the ramparts. 

I (lid not want money, and there was only a detachment from 
the garrison regiment in the citadel of Glatz, the officers of 
which were all poor, I soon had both friends and freedom, and 
the rich prisoner every day kept open table. 

He only who had known me in thislhe ardor of my youth, who 
had witnessed how high 1 aspired, and the fortune that attended 
me at Berlin, can imagine what my feelings were at finding 
myself thus suddenly cast from my high hopes. I wrote submis- 
sively to the king, requesting to be tried by a court martial, and 
not desiring any favor should I be found guilty. This haughty 
tone in a youth, was displeasing, and I received no answer, 
which threw me into despair, and induced me to use every 
possible means to obtain my liberty. 

]\Iy first care was to establish, by the intervention of an officer, 
a certain correspondence with the object of my heart. She 
answered, she was far from supposing I had ever entertained the 
least thought traitorous to my country j that she knew too well 
I was perfectly incapable of dissimulation. She blamed the 
precipitate anger, and unjust suspicions of the king; promised 
me speedy aid, and sent me a thousand ducats. Had I, at this 
critical moment, possessed a prudent and intelligent friend, who 
could have calmed my impatience, nothing perhaps, might have 
been more easy than to have obtained pardon of the king, by 
proving my innocence; or, perhaps, than to have induced him to 
punish my enemies. 

But the officers who were then at Glatz fed the flame of dis- 
content. They supposed the money I so freely distributed came 
from Hungary, furnished by the pandour chest; and advised me 
not to suffer my freedom to depend upon the will of the king, 
but to enjoy it in his despite. 

Five months soon passed away in prison; peace was con- 



24 Life of Baron Trenck. 



eluded," the king was returned to his capital; my commission in 
the guards was bestowed on another, when Lieutenant Piaschky 
of the regiment of Fouquet, and Ensign Reitz, who often mounted 
guard over me, proposed that they and I should escape together. 
I yielded, our plan was fixed, and every preparatory step 
taken. 

At that time there was another prisoner at Glatz, whose name 
was Manget, by birth a Swiss, and captain of cavalry in the 
Natzmerschen hussars; he had been broken and condemned, by a 
court-martial, to ten years imprisoment, with an allowance of 
only four rix dollars per month. 

Having done this man kindness, I was resolved to rescue him, 
also, from bondage at the same time with myself. I com- 
municated my design, and made the proposal, which was 
accepted by him, and measures were taken; yet were we betrayed 
by this vile man, who thus obtained pardon and freedom. 

Piaschky who had been informed that Reitz was arrested, 
saved himself by deserting. I denied the fact in presence of 
Manget, with whom I was confronted, and bribed the auditor 
with an hundred ducats. By this means, Reitz only suffered a 
year's imprisonment and the loss of his commission. I was then 
confined for having endeavored to corrupt the king's officers, 
and guarded with great caution. 

Here I will interrupt my narrative a moment, to relate an ad- 
venture which happened between me and this Captain Manget, 
three years afterwards, that is to to say, in 1749, at Warsaw. 

I there met him by chance, and it is not difficult to imagine 
what was the salutation he received. I caned him; he took this 
ill, and challenged me to fight him with pistols. Captain 
Heucking of the Polish guards, was my second; I shot him 
through the neck at the first shot, and he fell dead on the field. 

He alone, of all my enemies, ever died by my own hand; and 
he well merited his end for his cowardly treachery towards the 
two brave fellows of whom I have spoken; and still more so 
with respect to myself, who had been his benefactor; and I own 
I have never reproached myself for this duel, by which I sent a 
rascal out of the world. 



Life, of Baron Trenck. 25 



I return to my tale. My destiny at Glatz was now become 
more untoward and severe. The king's suspicions were increased, 
as likewise was his anger, at my late attempt to escape. 

Left to myself, I considered my situation in the worst point of 
view, and determined on flight or death. The length and close- 
ness of my confinement became insupportable to my impatient 
temper. 

I had always the garrison on my side, nor was it possible to 
prevent my making friends among them. They knew I had 
money, and in a poor garrison regiment, the officers of which 
are all dissatisfied, having most of them been drafted from other 
corps, and sent thither as a punishment, there was nothing that 
might not be undertaken. 

My scheme then was as follow^s: — My window looked towards 
the city, and was ninety feet from the ground in the tower of the 
citadel, out of Avhich I could not get, without having found a 
place of refuge in the city. This an officer undertook to procure 
me, and prevailed on an honest soap-boiler to grant me a hid- 
ing-place. I then notched my pen-knife and sawed through 
three large iron bars: but this was too tiresome a mode, it being 
necessary to file away eight bars from my window, before I 
could pass through; another officer procured me a file, which I 
M'as obliged to use with caution, lest I should be overheard by 
the sentinels. 

Having ended this labor I cut my leather portmanteau into 
thongs, sewed them end to end, added the sheets of my bed, and 
descended safely from this astonishing height. It rained, the 
night was dark, and all seemed fortunate, but I had to wade 
through moats full of mud before I could enter the city, a cir- 
cumstance I had never once before considered. I sunk up to the 
knees, and after long struggling, and incredible eflferts to get 
out, I was obliged myself to call the sentinel, and desired him 
to go and tell the governor, Trenck was stuck fast in a ditch. 

My misfortune was the greater on this occasion, because that 
General Fouquet was then governor of Glatz. He was one ol 
the cruelest of men. He had been wounded by ray father in a 



26 ii/*e of Baron Trenck. 



duel; and the Austrian Trenck had taken his baggage in 1744, 
and also laid the country of Glatz under contribution. He was 
therefore an enemy to the very name of Trenck, nor did he lose 
any opportunity of giving me proofs of his enmity, and especially 
on the present occasion, when he left me standing in the mud 
till noon, the sport of the soldiers. I was then drawn out half 
dead, only again to be imprisoned, and shut up the whole day 
without water to wash me. No one can imagine how I looked, 
exhausted and dirty, my long hair having fallen into the mud, 
with which, by my struggling, it was loaded. I remained in 
this condition till the next day, when two fellow prisoners M'ere 
sent to assist and clean me. 

My imprisonment now became more intolerable. I had still 
eighty louis-d'ors in my purse, which had not been taken from 
me at my removal into another dungeon, and these afterwards 
did me good service. 

The passions now all assailed me at once, and impetuous, 
boiling, youthful blood overpowered reason; hope disappeared; 
I thought myself the most unfortunate of men, and my king an 
irreconcilable judge, more wrathful and fortified in suspicion 
by my own rashness. My nights were sleepless, my days miser- 
able; my soul was tortured by the desire of fame; a conscious- 
ness of innocence was a continual stimulus, inciting me to end 
my misfortunes. Youth, inexperienced in woe and disastrous 
fate, beholds every evil magnified, and desponds upon every new 
disappointment, more especially, having failed in attempting 
freedom. Education had taught me to despise death, and these 
opinions had been confirmed by my friend La Metric, author of 
the famous work, U Homme une Machine, or Man a Machine. 

I read much during my confinement at Glatz, where books 
were allowed me; time was therefore less tedious; but when the 
love of liberty awoke, when fame and aifection called me to 
Berlin, and my baulked hopes painted the wretchedness of my 
situation; when I remembered my loved country, judging by 
appearances, could not but pronounce me a traitor; then I was 
hourly impelled to rush on the naked bayonets of my guards, by 
whom to me the ^vay of freedom was barred. Big with such 



Life, of Baron Trench. Jj7 



like thoughts, eight days had not elapsed since my last fruitless 
attempt to escape, when an event happened which would appear 
incredible, were I, the principal actor in the scene, not alive to 
attest its truth, and might not all Glatz and the Prussian army 
be produced as eye and ear witnesses. This incident will prove 
that bold, and even rash daring, will render the most improbable 
undertakings possible, and that desperate attempts may often 
make a general more fortunate and famous than the wisest and 
best concerted plans. 

Major Doo came to visit me, accompanied by an officer of the 
guard and an adjutant. After examining every corner of my 
chamber, he addressed me, taxing me with a second crime in 
endeavoring to obtain my liberty; adding this must certainly 
increase the anger of the king. My blood boiled at the word 
crime; he talked of patience; I asked how long the king had 
condemned me to imprisonment? He answered, a traitor to his 
country, who has corresponded with the enemy, can not be con- 
demned for a certain time, but must depend for pardon on the 
king. 

At that instant I snatched his sword from his side, on which > 

my eyes had been fixed, sprang out of the door, threw the sen- | 

tinel from the top to the bottom of the stairs; passed the guard, 
who happened to be drawn up before the prison door to relieve 
guard, attacked them sword in hand, threw them suddenly into 
surprise by the manner in which I laid about me; wounded four 
men, made my way through the rest, sprang over the breastwork 
of the ramparts, and, with my sword drawn in my hand, imme- 
diately leaped this astonishing height without receiving the least 
injury. I leaped the second wall with equal safety and good 
fortune. None of the arms were loaded; no one durst leap after 
me, and in order to pursue they must go round through the town 
and the gate of the citadel; so that I had the start full half an 
hour. 

A sentinel, however, in a narrow passage endeavored to i l^ ^ 
oppose ray flight, but I parried his fixed bayonet and wounded 
him in the face. A second sentinel, mean time, came from the 
outworks to seize me behind, and to avoid him I made a spring 



28 Life of Baron Trench. 



at the palisadoes; there I was unluckily caught by the foot, and 
received a bayonet wound in my upper lip; thus entangled, they 
beat me with the butt end of their muskets, and dragged me 
back to prison, while I struggled and defended myself like a man 
grown desperate. (^ Certain it is, had I more carefully jumped the 
palisadoes, and disabled the sentinel who opposed me, I might 
have escaped, and gained the mountains. Thus I might have 
fled to Bohemia, after having at noon day broke from the fort- 
ress of Glatz, sprung past all its sentinels, over all its walls, and 
passed with impunity, in despite of the guard, who were under 
arms ready to oppose me. I should not, having a sword, have 
feared any single opponent, and was able to contend with the 
swiftest runners. That good fortune which had so far attended 
me forsook me at the palisadoes, where hope was at an end. 
The severities of imprisonment were increased; two sentinels 
and an under officer were locked in with me, and were them- 
selves guarded by sentinels without. I was beaten and w^ounded 
by the butt ends of their muskets, my right foot was sprained, I 
spit blood, and my wounds were not cured in less than a month. 

I was now inibrmed the king had only condemned me to a 
year's imprisonment, in order to learn whether his suspicions 
were well founded. My mother had petitioned for me, and was 
answered, " Your son must remain a year imprisoned as a pun- 
ishment for his rash correspondence." 

Of this I was ignorant, and it was said in Glatz my imprison- 
ment w-as for life. I had only three weeks longer to repine at 
the loss of liberty, when I made this rash attempt. What must 
the king think? Was he not obliged to act with this severity? 
How" could prudence excuse my impatience thus to risk a con- 
fiscation, when T was certain of receiving freedom, justification 
and honor, in three weeks? But such was my adverse fate, 
circumstances all tended to injure and persecute me, till at length 
I gave reason to suppose that I was a traitor, notwithstanding 
the purity of my intentions. 

Once more, then, I. was in a dungeon; and no sooner w^as I 
there, than I formed new projects of flight. I first gained the 
intimacy of my guards; I had money, and this with the com- 



Life of Baron Trench. 29 



passion I had inspired, might effect anything among dii-contented 
Prussian soldiers. Soon had I s;aincd thirty -tv;o men, who weie 
ready to execute, on the first signal, whatever I should command. 
Two or three exceptetl, they were unacquainted with each other, 
consequently could not all be betrayed at a time; and 1 had 
chosen the under officer, Nicholai, to lead ihem. The garrison 
consisted only of one hundred and twenty men, from the garrison 
regiment, the rest being dispersed in the country of Glatz, and 
four officers, their commanders; three of whom were in my in- 
terest. Every thing was prepared; swords and pistols were 
concealed in an oven, which was in my prison. We intended 
to give liberty to all prisoners, and retire by beat of di'um intol 
Bohemia. 

Unfortunately, an Austrian deserter, to whom Nicholai had 
imparted our design, went and discovered our conspiracy. The 
governor instantly sent his adjutant to the citadel with orders 
that the officer on guard should arrest Nicholai, and\\ith his 
men take possession of the casement. 

Nicholai was one of the guard, and the lieutenant was my 
friend, and being in the secret, gave the signal that all was dis- 
covered. Nicholai only, knew all the conspirators, several of 
whom were that day on guard. He instantly formed his resolution, 
leaped into the casements, crying, '" Comrades to arms, we are 
betrayed?" All followed to the guard house, Mhere they seized 
on the cartridges, the officer having only eight men, and threat- 
ening to fire on whosoever should offer resistance, came to de- 
liver me from prison; but the iron gate was too strong, and the 
time too short for that to be demolished. Nicholai calling to 
me to aid them, but in vain; and perceiving nothing more could 
be done for me, this brave man, heading nineteen others^ 
marched to the gate of the citadel, where there was an undci- 
ofJicer and ten soldiers, obliged these to accompany them, and 
thus arrived safely at Brannau in Bohemia; for, before the news 
wa.s spread through the city, and men Merc collected for the 
pursuit, they were nearly half way on their journey. 

Two years after, I met with this extraordinary man at Osna- 
burg, where he was a writer: he entered immediately into my 



30 Life of Baron Trenck. 



service, and became my friend, but died some months after, of 
a burning fever, at my quarters in Hungary, at which I was 
deeply grieved, for his memory will ever be dear to me. 

Now was I exposed to all the storms of ill fortune. A pro- 
secution was entered against me as a conspirator, who wanted 
to corrupt the officers and soldiers of the king. They commanded 
me to name the remaining conspirators; but to these questions I 
made no answer, except by steadfastly declaring I was an 
innocent prisoner, and an officer unjustly broken; unjustly, be- 
cause I had never been brought to trial. 

Things thus remained; every precaution was taken, except 
that I was not put in irons; it being a law, in Prussia, that no 
gentleman or officer can be loaded with chains, unless he has first, 
for some crime, been delivered over to the executioner; and 
certainly this had not been my case. 

The soldiers were withdrawn from my chamber; but the 
greatest ill was, that 1 had expended all my money, and my 
kind mistress at Berlin, with whom I had always corresponded, 
and which my persecutors could not prevent, at last wrote, "My 
tears flow with yours; the evil is without remedy; I dare say 
no more; escape if you can. My fidelity will ever be the same, 
when it shall be possible for me to serve you — adieu — unhappy 
friend — you merit a better fate." This letter was a thunder- 
bolt; my comfort, however, still was, that the officers were not 
suspected, and that it was their duty to visit my chamber several 
times a day, and examine what passed; from which circumstance 
I felt my hopes somewhat revive. Hence an adventure happened, 
w^hich is almost unexampled in the tales of knight errantry. 

A lieutenant whose name was Bach, a Dane by nation, 
mounted guard every fourth day, and was the terror of the whole 
garrison: for, being a perfect master of arms, he was incessantly 
involved in quarrels, and generally left his marks behind him. 
He had served in two regiments, neither of which would 
associate with him for this reason, and he had been sent to the 
garrison recfiment at Glatz as a punishment. 

Bach one day, sitting beside me, related how, the evening 
before, he had wounded a lieutenant of the name Schell in the 



Lifo of Baron Trcnck. 3 1 



arm. I replied, laughing, had I my liberty, I believe you would 
find some trouble in wounding me, lor I have some skill in the 
sword. The blood instantly flew in his lace; we split ofT a kind 
of pair of foils from an old door which had served me as a table, 
and at the first lounge I hit him in the breast. His rage became 
ungovernable, and he left the prison. What was my astonish- 
ment when, a moment after, I saw him return with two soldiers' 
swords, which he had concealed under his coat. "Now then, 
boaster, prove," said he, giving me one of them, "what thou 
art able to do." I endeavored to pacify him, by representing 
the danger, but ineirectually. He attacked me with the utmost 
fury, and I wounded him in the arm. Tlnowing his sword down, 
he now fell upon my neck, and kissed me and wept. At length, 
after some convulsive emotions of pleasure, he said, "Friend, 
thou art my master; and thou must, thou shalt, by my aid, 
obtain thy liberty as certainly as my name is Bach. We bound 
up his arm as well as we could. He left me, and secretly went 
to a surgeon to have it dressed, and at night returned. 

He now remarked that it was humanly impossible I should 
escape, unless the officer on guard should desert with me, that he 
wished nothing more ardently than to sacrifice his life in my 
behalf, but that he could not resolve so far to forget his honor 
and duty as to desert himself while on guard; he notwithstanding 
gave me his word he would find me such a person in a few days; 
and that in the mean time he would prepare every thing for my 
flight. He returned the same evening, bringing wnth him Lieut. 
Schell, and as he entered, said, "Here is your man." Schell em- 
braced me, gave me his word of honor, and thus was the affair 
settled, and as it proved, my liberty ascertained. 

We now began to deliberate on the means necessary to obtain 
our purpose. Schell was just come from garrison at Habelschwert 
to the citadel of Glatz, and in two days was to mount guard 
over me, till when our attempt was suspended. I have before 
said, I received no more supplies from my beloved mistress, and 
my purse at present contained only some six pistoles. It was 
therefore resolved, that Bach should go to Schweidnitz, and 
obtain money of a sure friend of mine in that city. 



<M 



32 Life of Baron Trenck. 



Here I must inform the reader, that at this time the oiEcers 
and I all understood each other, Captain Roeder alone excepted, 
who was exact, rigid, and gave trouble on all occasions. 

Major Quadt was my kinsman by my mother's side, a good 
friendly man, and ardently desirous I should escape, seeing my 
calamities were now so much increased. The four lieutenants 
who successively mounted guard over me, were Bach, Schroeder, 
Lunitz, and Schell. The first was the grand projector, and 
made all the preparations; Schell was to desert with me; and 
Scroeder and Lunitz, three days after, were to follow. 

The talents of Schell were of a superior order; he spoke and 
wrote six languages, and was well acquainted with all the fine 
arts. He had served in the regiment of Fouquet; had been in- 
jured by his colonel, who was a Pomeranian, and Fouquet, who 
was no friend to well informed ofificers, had sent him to a garrison 
regiment. He had twice demanded his dismission, but the king 
sent him to this species of imprisonment; he then determined to 
avenge himself by deserting, and was ready to aid me in recover- 
ing my freedom, that he might spite Fouquet. I shall speak 
more hereafter of this extraordinary man, that I may not in this 
place interrupt my story. We determined every thing should be 
prepared against the first time Schell mounted guard, and that 
our project should be executed on the next. Thus, as he 
mounted guard every four days, the eighth was to be that of our 
flight. 

The governor had been informed how familiar I became with 
the officers, at which, taking offence, he sent orders that my 
doors should not be opened, but that I should receive my food 
through a small window that had been made for that purpose. 
The care of the prison was committed to the major, and he was 
forbidden to eat with me under pain of being broken. 

His precautions were ineffectual; the officers procured me a 
false key, and remained with me half the day and night. 

Beside my prison was that of Captain Damnitz. This man had 
deserted from the Prussian service with the men belono-ino; to his 
company to Austria, where he obtained a commission in his 
cousin's regiment, who having prevailed on him to serve as a 



lAfe of Baron Trench. 33 



spy during the campaign of 1744, he was taken in the Prussian 
territories, known, and condemned to be hanged. 

Some ;_Swedish volunteers, who were then in the army, inter- 
ested themselves in his behalf, and his sentence was changed to 
perpetual imprisonment, with a sentence of infamy. 

This wretch, who, two years after, by his protectors, not only 
obtained his liberty, but a lieutenant colonel's commission, was 
then the secret spy of the major over the prisoners; and he re- 
marked that notwithstanding the express prohibition laid on the 
officers, they still passed the greater part of their time in my 
company. 

The 24th of December came, and Schell mounted guard. He 
entered my prison immediately, where he continued a long time, 
and we made arrangements for flight when he next should mount 
guard. Lieutenant Schroeder that day dined with the governor, 
and heard orders given that Schell should ^be taken from the 
guard, and put under arrest. Schroeder, who was in the secret, 
had no doubt but we were betrayed, not knowing that the spy, 
Damnitz, had informed the governor that Schell was then in my 
chamber. Schroeder, full of terror, came running to the citadel, 
and said to Schell, " Save thyself, friend, all is discovered, and 
thod wilt instantly be put under arrest." Schell might easily 
have provided for his own safety, by flying singly; Schroeder 
having prepared horses, on one of which he himself offered to 
accompany him to Bohemia. How did this worthy man, in a 
moment so dangerous, act towards his friend? 

Running suddenly into my prison, he drew a corporal's sabre 
from under his coat, and said, "Friend, we are betrayed, follow 
me, only do not suffer me to fall alive into the hands of my en- 
emies." I would have spoken, but interrupting me, and taking 
me by the hand, he added, " follow me, we have not a moment 
to lose." I therefore slipt on my coat and boots, without having 
time to take the little money I had left, and as we went out of 
the prison, Schell said to the sentinel, "I am taking the prisoner 
into the officers' apartment; stand where you are." 

Into this room we really went, but passed out at the other door. 
The design of Schell was to go under the arsenal which was 



34 i'i/e of Baron Trenck. 



not far off, to gain the covered way, leap the palisadoes, and 
afterwards escape the best way we might. We had scarcely 
gone a hundred paces, before we met the adjutant and major 
Quadt- Schell started back, sprang upon the rampart and leaped 
from the wall, which was there not very high. I followed, and 
lighted unhurt, except having grazed my shoulder. My poor 
friend was not so fortunate, having put out his ancle; he imme- 
diately drew his sword, presented it to me, and begged me to 
dispatch him and fly. He was a small w^eak man, but far from 
complying with his request, I took him in my arms, threw him 
over the palisadoes, afterwards got him on my back, and began 
to run without very well knowing which way I went. 

It may not be unnecessary to remark those fortunate circum- 
stances that favored our enterprise. > 

The sun had just set as we took to flight; the hoar frost fell. 
No one could run the same risk we had done, by making so dan- 
gerous a leap. We heard a terrible noise behind us. Every 
body knew us; but before they could go round the citadel, and 
through the town, in order to pursue us, we had got a full half 
league. The alarm guns were fired before we were a hundred 
paces distant, at which my friend was much terrified, knowing 
that in such a case it was generally impossible to escape from 
Glatz, unless the fugitives had got the start full tw^o hours before 
the alarm guns were fired, the passes being immediately all 
stopped by the peasants and hussars, who are exceedingly vigil- 
ant. No sooner is a prisoner missed, than the gunner runs from 
the guard house, and fires the cannon from three sides of the 
fortress, w^hich are kept loaded day and night for that purpose. 

We were not five hundred paces from the walls, when all 
before us and behind us were in motion. It was daylight when 
we leaped, yet was our attempt as fortunate as it was wonder- 
ful; this I attribute to my presence of mind, and the reputation I 
had already acquired, which made it thought a service of danger 
for two or three to attack me. It was, beside, imagined we were 
well provided with arms for our defence, and it was little sus- 
pected that Schell had only his sword, and I an old corporal's 
sabre. 



Life of Baron Trenclc. 36 



Among the offieers commanded to pursue us, was lieutenant 
Bart, my intimate friend. Captain Zerbst, of the reo-iment ot 
Fouquet, who had always testified the kindness of a brother 
toward me, met us on the Bohemian frontiers and called to me, 
" Make to the left, brother, and you will see some lone houses, 
which are on the Bohemian confines; the hussars have rode 
straight forward." He then passed on as if he had not seen us. 

We had nothing to fear from the officers, for the intimacy in 
the Prussian army was at that time so great, and the word ot 
honor so sacred, that during my rigorous detention at Glatz, I 
had been once six and thirty hours hunting at Neurode, at the 
seat of the Baron Still friede; Lunitz had taken my place in the 
prison, which the major knew when he came to make his visit. 
Hence may be gathered how great was the confidence in which 
the word of the unfortunate Trenck was held at Glatz, since 
they did not fear letting him leave his dungeon, and hunt on the 
very confines of Bohemia. This shows the governor was deceived, 
in despite of his watchfulness and orders, and that a man of honor, 
with money and a good heart, will never want friends. 

These, my memoirs, will be the picture of what the national 
character then was; and will prove, that with the officers who 
lived like brothers, and held their word so sacred, the great 
Frederick well might vanquish his enemies. Arbitrary power 
has introduced the whip of slavery, and the mechanic subordi- 
nation has eradicated those noble and rational incitements to 
concord and honor; instead of these, mistrust and slavish fear 
have arisen, the enthusiastic spirit of the Brandenburg warrior 
declines, and into this error have most of the other European 
states fallen. 

Scarcely had I borne my friend three hundred paces before I 
sat down and looked around me, but darkness came on so last 
that I could see neither town nor citadel, consequently, we our- 
selves could not be seen. 

My presence of mind did not forsake me; death or freedom 
was my determination. Where are we, Schell? said I to my 
friend. Where does Bohemia lie? On which side is the river 
Neiss? The worthy man could make no answer; his mind was 



Life of Baron Trenck. 



all confusion, and he despaired of our making our escape; he 
still, however, entreated I would not let him be taken alive, and 
affirmed my labor was in vain. 

After 'having promised, by all that was sacred, I would save 
him from an infamous death, *if no other means -v^-ereMeft, and 
thus raised his spirits, he looked round and knew by some trees 
Ave were not far from the city gates. I asked him, where is the 
Neissl He pointed sideways. "All Glatz has seen us fly toward 
the Bohemian mountains; it is impossible we should avoid the 
hussars, being all guarded, and we beset with enemies." So 
saying, I took him on my shoulders, and carried him to the 
Neiss; here we distinctly heard the alarm sounded in the villages, 
and the peasants, who likewise were to form the line of deser- 
tion, w^ere every where in motion, and spreading the alarm. 
As it may not be known to all my readers in what manner thfey 
proceed on these occasions in Prussia, I will here give a short 
account of it. 

Officers are daily named on the parade, whose duty it is to 
follow fugitives, as soon as the alarm guns are fired. 

The peasants in the village likewise are daily appointed to run 
to the guard of certain posts. The officers immediately fly to 
these posts to see that the peasants do their duty, and prevent the 
prisoners' escape. Thus does it seldom happen that a soldier 
can make his escape, unless he be, at the very least, an hour on 
his road before the alarm gun is fired. 

I now return to my story. I came to the Neiss, which was a 
little frozen, entered with my friend, and carried him as long as 
I could wade, and when 1 could not feel the bottom, which was 
not more than eighteen feet, he clung round me, and thus we 
got safely to the other shore. My father taught all his sons to 
swim, for which I have often to thank him, since by means of 
this art, which is easily learned in childhood, I had on various 
occasions preserved my life, and was more bold in danger. 
Princes, who wish to make their subjects soldiers, should have them 
educated so as to fear neither fire nor water. How great w^ould 
be the advantage of being able to cros^, with whole battalions, 
when it is necessary to attack or retreat before the enemy, and 



Life of Baron Trenck. ^ 



time will not penult to prepare bridges! The reader will easily 
suppose swimming in the midst of December, and remaining 
afterwards eighteen hours in the open air, \vas a severe 
hardship. 

About seven o'clock the hoar fog was succeeded by frost and 
moonlight. The carrying of my friend kept me warm it is true, 
but I began to be tired, whilst he suffered every thing tl^at frost, 
the pain of a dislocated foot, which I in vain endeavored to 
reset, and the danger of death from a thousand hands, could in- 
flict. We were somewhat more tranquil, however, having 
reached the opposite shore of the Neiss, since nobody would 
pursue us on the road to Silesia. I followed the course of the 
river for half an hour, and having once passed the first villages 
that formed the line of desertion, with which Schell was perfect- 
ly acquainted, we in a lucky' moment found a fisherman's boat 
moored to the shore; into this we leaped, crossed the river again,* 
and soon gained the mountains. Here being come, we sat our- 
selves down awhile on the snow, hope revived in our hearts, and 
we held a counsel concerning how it was best to act. I cut a stick 
to assist Schell in hopping foward, as well as he could, whqn I was 
tired of carrying him; and thus we continued our route, the 
difficulties of which were increased on the mountain snows. 

Thus passed the night, during which, up to the middle in 
snow, we made but little way. There were no paths to be 
traced in the mountains, and they were in many places impass- 
able. Day at length appeared; we thought ourselves near the 
frontiers, which are twenty English miles from Glatz, when we 
suddenly, to our great«terror, heard the clock strike. Over- 
whelmed as we were, by hunger, cold, fatigue, and pain, it was 
impossible we could hold out through the day. After some 
consideration, and another half hour's labor, we came to a 
village at the foot of the mountain, on the side of which, about 
three hundred paces from us, we perceived two separate houses, 
which inspired us with a stratagem that was successful. We 
lost our hats in leaping the ramparts; but Schell had preserved 
his scarf and gorget, which would give him authority among 
the peasants. 

4 



38 Life of Baron Trenck. 



I then cut my finger, rubbed the blood over my face, my shirt, 
and my coat, and bound up my head, to give me the appearance 
of a man dangerously wounded. In this condition I carried Schell 
to the end of the wood not far from these houses, here he tied 
my hands behind my back, but so that I could easily disengage 
them in case of need, and hobbled after me by the aid of his staff, 
calling for help. 

Two old peasants appeared; Schell commanded them to run 
to the village and tell a magistrate to come immediately with a 
cart. " I have seized this knave," added he, " who has killed 
ray horse, and in the struggle put out my ancle. However, I 
have wounded and bound him; fly quickly, bring a cart, lest he 
should die before he is hanged." 

As for me, I suffered myself to be led, as if half dead, into the 
house. A peasant was dispatched into the village. An old 
woman and a pretty girl seemed to take great pity on me, and 
gave me some bread and milk; but how great was our astonish- 
ment when the aged peasant called Schell by his name, and told 
him we were deserters, having the night before been at a 
neighboring ale-house, where the officer in pursuit of us came, 
named and described us, and related the whole history of our 
flight. The peasant knew Schell, because his son served in his 
company, and had often spoken of him when he was quartered 
at Habelschwert. 

Presence of mind and resolution was all that were now left. I 
instantly ran to the stable, while Schell detained the peasant in 
the chamber. He, however, was a worthy man, and directed 
him the road towrards Bohemia. We were still but about seven 
miles from Glatz, having lost ourselves among the mountains, 
where we had wandered many miles. The daughter followed 
me — I found three horses in the stable, but no bridles; I conjured 
her in the most passionate manner to assist me; she was affected, 
seemed half willing to follow me, and gave me the two bridles. 
I led the horses to the door, called Schell, and helped him, with 
his lame leg, on horseback. The old peasant then began to 
weep, and beg I would not take his horses; but he luckily wanted 
courage, and perhaps the will to impede us ; for with a single 



Life of Baron Trenck. 39 



dung-fork, in our present feeble condition, he might have stopped 
us long enough to have called in assistance iVoni the village. 

And now behold us on horseback, without hats or saddles; 
Schell with his uniform, scarf and gorget, and I in my red body- 
guard coat. Still were we in danger of seeing all our hopes 
vanish, for my horse would not stir from the stable; however, at 
last, good horseman like, I made him move: Schell led the way, 
and we had scarcely gone an hundred paces before we perceived 
the peasants coming in crowds from the village. 

As kind fortune would have it, the people were all at church, 
it being a festival; the peasants Schell had sent were obliged to 
call aid out of the church. It was but nine in the morning, 
and had the peasants been at home, we had been lost without 
hope. 

We were obliged to take the road to Wunshelburg, and pass 
through the town where Schell had been quartered a month 
before, and every body knew him. Our dress, without hats or 
saddles, sufficiently proclaimed we were deserters; our horses, 
however, continued to go tolerably well, and we had the good 
fortune to get through the town, although there was a garrison 
of one hundred and eighty infantry, and twelve horse, purposely 
to arrest deserters. Schell knew the road to Braunau, where 
we arrived at eleven o'clock, after having met, as I before men- 
tioned, Captain Zerbst. 

He alone, who has been in the 'same situation, can imagine, 
though not describe, all the joy we felt. An innocent man, 
languishing in a dungeon, who by his own endeavors, has broken 
his chains and regained his liberty, in despite of all the arbitrary 
power of princes, who vainly would oppose him, conceives, in 
moments like these, such abhorrence of all despotisms, that I 
could not well comprehend how I ever could resolve to live 
under governments, where wealth, content, honor, liberty, and 
life, all depend upon a monarch's will; and who, were his in- 
tentions the most pure, could not be able singly to do justice to 
a whole nation. Never did I, during my life, feel pleasure more 
exquisite than at this moment. My friend, for me, had risked a 
shameful death, and now, after having carried him at least 



40 Life of Baron Trenck. 



twelve hours on my shoulders, I had saved both him and myself. 
We certainly would not have suffered any man to carry us alive 
again to Glatz. Yet this was but the first act of the tragedy, of 
w^hich I was doomed the hero, and the mournful incidents of 
which all arose out of, and depended on each other. And now, 
for the first time, did I quit my country, and fly, like Joseph from 
the pit into which his false brethren had cast him; and in this, 
the present moment of joy for my escape, the loss of even friends 
and country appeared to me the excess of good fortune. 

The estates which had been purchased by the blood of my 
forefathers were confiscated; and thus was a youth of one of the 
noblest families in the land, whose heart was all zeal for the 
service of his king and country, and who was among those most 
capable to render them services, banished by this unjust and 
misled king, and treated like the worst of miscreants, malefactors 
and traitors. 

I wrote to the king and sent him indubitable proofs of my 
innocence, and supplicated justice, but received no answer. In 
this the monarch may be justified, at least in my apprehension. 
A wicked man had maliciously and falsely accused me. 

The monarch once really loved me; he meant my punishment 
should only be temporary, and as a trial of my fidelity. That I 
had only been condemned to a year's imprisonment, had never 
been told me, and was a fact I did not learn till long after. 

And now was I in Bohemia, a fugitive stranger, without 
money, protector or friend, and only twenty years of age. I had 
but a single louis-d'or in my purse, and Schell Ibrty kreutzers, 
or some three shillings; with this small sum, in a strange coun- 
try, we had to cure his sprain and provide for all our wants. 

I was determined not to go to my cousin Trenck, at Vienna, 
fearful this should seem a justification of all my imputed treasons. 
I rather wished to embark for the East Indies than to have re- 
course to this expedient. The greater my delicacy was, the 
greater became my distress. I wrote to my mistress at Berlin, 
but received no answer, possibly because I could not indicate any 
certain mode of conveyance. My mother believed me guilty, 
and abandoned me; my brothers were still minors, and my 



Life of Baron Trenck. ^ 



friend at Schweidnitz could not aid me, being gone to Konigs- 
berg. 

After three weeks abode at Braunau, my friend recovered his 
lameness. We had been obliged to sell my watch, with his 
scarf and gorget, and had only four florins remaining. 

From the public papers I learnt my cousin, the Austrian 
Trenck, was at this time closely confined, and under criminal 
prosecution. It will be easily imagined what effect this news 
had upon me. 

Never till now, had I felt any inconvenience from poverty; 
my wants had all been amply supplied, and 1 had ever lived 
among, and been highly loved and esteemed by the first people 
of the land. I was now destitute, without aid, and undetermined 
how to seek employement or obtain fame. 

At length I determined to travel on foot to Prussia, to my 
mother, and obtain money from her, and afterward to enter into 
the Russian service. Schell, whose destiny was linked to mine, 
would not forsake me. We assumed false names — I called my- 
self Knerr, and Schell, Lesch — then obtaining passports, like 
common deserters, we left Braunau on the 21st of January, in 
the evening, unseen by any person, and proceeded towards Bilitz 
in Poland. A friend I had at Neurode, gave me a pair of pocket 
pistols, a musket, and three ducats; the money was spent at 
Braunau. Here let me take occasion to remark, I had lent this 
friend in urgent necessity, a hundred ducats, which he yet owed 
me; and when I sent to request payment, he returned me three, 
as if I had asked charity. 

Though a circumstantial description of our travels would 
alone fill a volume, I shall only relate the most singular accidents 
which happened to us. 

This may be called the first scene in which I appeared as an 
adventurer, and perhaps my good fortune may even have over- 
balanced the bad, since I have escaped death full thirty times, 
when the chances were at least a hundred to one against me; 
certain it is, I undertook many things, in which I seemed to 
have owed my preservation to the very rashness of the action, 
and in which others, equally brave, would have found death. 



42 Life of Baron Trench. 



After encounteiing and overcoming a number of difficulties 
and hair breadth escapes, we arrived at Vienna in the month ot 
April, 1747. But desirous of going to India, I left Vienna in 
August 1748, desirous of owing no obligation to that city or its 
inhabitants, and went for Holland. And here an adventure 
happened to me which I shall ever remember as a warning to 
myself, and insert as a memento to others. 

The army physician on this day kept a faro bank, for the 
entertainment of the guests. My stock of money consisted of 
two and twenty ducats. Thirst of gain, or perhaps example, 
induced me to venture two of these, which I immediately lost* 
and very soon, by ventuiing again, to regain them, the whole 
two and twenty. Chagrined at my folly, I returned home, and 
recovering my spirits, asked my servant w-hat money he had, 
and received from him three ducats. With these I repaired 
like a desperate gamester, once more to the faro table at the 
general's, again began to play, and so extraordinary was my 
run of luck, I won at every venture. Having recovered my 
principal, I played on the winnings, till at last I had absolutely 
broke the doctor's bank; a new bank was set up, and I won the 
greatest part of this likewise, so that I brought home 600 ducats. 
Rejoiced at my good fortune, but recollecting my danger, I had 
the prudence to make a solemn resolution never more to play at 
any game of chance, to which I ever adhered. 

General Leu win, my kind patron, sent me from Cracow to 
conduct 146 men dow^n the Vistula to Dantzic, where there were 
Russian vessels to receive and transport them to Riga. 

And now behold me at sea on my voyage to Riga. I had 
eaten heartily before I went on board: a storm came on, I 
worked half the night to aid the crew, but at length became 
sea-sick and went to lie down. Scarcely had I closed my eyes, 
before the master came with the joyful tidings, as he thought, 
that we were running for the port of Pillau. Far from pleasing, 
this was to me dreadful intelligence. I ran on deck, saw the 
harbor right before me, and a pilot coming off. The sea must 
now eilher be kept in a storm, or I fall into the hands of the 
Prussians, for I was known to the whole garrison of Pillau. 



Life of Baron Trenck. 4^ 



I desired the captain to tack about and keep the sea, but he 
wouki not listen to me. Perceiving this, I flew to my cabin, 
snatched my pistols, returned, seized the helm, and threatened 
the captain with instant death if he did not obey. My Russians 
began to murmur; they were averse to encountering the dangers 
of the storm, but luckily they were more averse to meet my 
anger, overawed as they were by my pistols and my two servants 
who stood by me faithfully. 

Half an hour after, the storm began to subside, and we 
fortunately arrived the next day in the harbor of Riga, The 
captain, however, could not be appeased, but accused me before 
the old and honorable Marshal Lacy, then governor of Riga. 
I was obliged to appear, and replied to the charge by relating 
the truth. The governor answered, my obstinacy might have 
occasioned the death of 160 persons. I, smiling, retorted, " I 
have brought them all safe to port, please your excellency; and 
for my part, my fate would be much more merciful by falling 
into the hands of my God, than into the hands of my enemies. 
My danger was so great, that I forgot the dangers of others, 
besides, sir, I knew my comrades were soldiers, and feared death 
as little as I." My answer pleased the fine grey-headed general 
and he gave me a recommendation to the chancellor, Bestuchef, 
at Moscow. 

From Riga, I departed in company with M. Oettinger, lieu- 
tenant colonel of engineers, and Lieutenant Weiseman for Mos- 
cow. This is the same Weiseman who rendered so many 
important services to Russia during the last war with the Turks. 
On my arrival, after delivering in my letters of recommendation, 
I was particularly well received by Count Bestuchef Oettinger, 
whose friendship I had gained, was exceedingly intimate with 
the chancellor, and my interest was thereby promoted. I was 
now introduced into all the companies, not as a foreigner who 
came to entreat employment, but as the heir of the house of 
Trenck and its rich Hungarian possessions, and as the former 
favorite of the Prussian monarch. My adventures with women 
would amply furnish a romance; but enough of this; I should 
not relate the present, were it not necessary for my story. 



44 Lifo of Baron Trenck. 



Dining one public day with Lord Hynford, I was seated beside 
a charming young lady of one of the best families in Russia, 
who had been promised in marriage, though only seventeen, to 
an old invalid minister. Her eyes soon told me she thought me 
preferable to her intended bridegroom. I undei'stood them, 
lamented her hard fate, and was surprised to hear her exclaim, 
"Oh Heavens! that it were possible you could deliver me from 
ray misfortunes; I would engage to do whatever you would 
direct." The impression such an appeal must make on a man 
of four and twenty, of a temperament like mine, may easily be 
supposed. The lady was ravishingly beautiful; her soul was 
candor itself, and her rank that of a princess; but the court's 
commands had already been given in favor of the marriage, 
and flight, with all its inseparable dangers, was the only expedient. 
A public table was no place for long explanations. Our hearts 
were already one. I requested an interview, and the next day 
was appointed, the place the Trotzer garden, where I passed 
these rapturous hours in her company — thanks to her woman, 
who was a Georgian. 

To escape, however, from Moscow, was impossible. The 
distance thence to any foreign country was too great. The 
court was not to remove to Petersburg till the next spring, 
and her marriage was fixed for the first of August. The mis- 
fortune was not to be remedied, and nothing was left us but 
patience perforce. We could only resolve to fly from Peters- 
burg, when there, as soon as possible, and to take refuge in 
some corner of the earth, where we might remain unknown to 
all. The marriage, therefore, was celebrated with pomp, though 
I, in despite of forms, was the true husband of the princess. Such 
was the state of the husband imposed upon her, that to describe 
it, and not give disgust, were impossible. 

The princess gave me her jewels, and several thousand rubles, 
which she had received as a nuptial present, that I might pur- 
chase every thing necessary for flight; my evil destiny had 
otherwise determined. I was playing at ombre with her one 
night, at the house of the countess of Bestuchef, when she com- 
plained of a violent head ache, appointed me to meet her on the 



Life of Baron Trenck. 



morrow, in the Trotzer gardens, clasped my hand with inexpress- 
ible emotion, and departed, Alas! I never beheld her more, 
till stretched upon her bier. She grew delirious that very night, 
and so continued till her death, which happened on the sixth 
day, when the small pox began to appear. Amidst her distraction 
she had discovered our love, and incessantly called on me to deliver 
her from her tyrant. Thus, in the flower of her age, perished one 
of the most lovely women I ever knew, and with her fled all I 
held most dear. 

No man, in my youth, would have believed I should have 
lived to my sixtieth year, untitled and obscure. In Berlin, 
Petersburgh, London and Paris have I been esteemed by the 
greatest statesmen, and now I am reduced to the invalid list. 
How strange are the caprices of fortune! I ought never to have 
left Russiaj this was my great error, which I still live to repent. 

I have never been accustomed to sleep more than four or live 
hours, so that though through life I have allowed time for paying 
visits and receiving company, I have still had sufficient for study 
and improvement. Hynford was my instructor in politics; 
Boerhave, then physician to the court, and my bosom friend, my 
tutor in physic and literary subjects. Women formed me for 
court intrigues, though these, as a philosopher, I despised. 

My cousin, Baron Trenck, died in the Spielberg, October 4, 
1749, and left me his heir on condition I should only serve the 
house of Austria. In March 1750, Count Bernes received the 
citation sent me to enter on this inheritance. Hyndford assured 
me of his eternal protection, and described London as a certain 
asylum, should I not find happiness at \ienna. He spoke of 
slavery as a Briton ought to speak, reminded me of the fate of 
Munich and Osterraan, painted the court such as I knew it to 
be, and asked what were my expectations, even were I fortunate 
enough to become general, or minister in such a country. These 
reasonings at length determined me; but, having plenty of money, 
I thought proper to take Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Holland 
in my way; and Bernes was, in the mean time, to prepare me a 
favorable reception at Vienna. He desired also I would give 
him authority to get possession of the estates to which I was 



46 Life of Baron Trenck. 



heir. My effects, in money and jewels, amounted to about thirty- 
six thousand florins. After remaining a few days at Petersburg, 
I journeyed by land to Stockholm, taking with me letters of 
recommendation from all the foreign envoys. 

At Stockholm I wanted no recommendation; the queen, sister 
to the great Frederick, had known me at Berlin, when I had the 
honor, as an officer of the body guard, of accompanying her to 
Stettin. I related my whole history to her without reserve. 
She, from political motives, advised me not to make any stay in 
Stockholm, and to me continued, till death, an ever gracious 
lady. I proceeded to Copenhagen, where I had business to 
transact for M. Chaise, the Danish envoy at Moscow; from 
whom also I had letters of recommendation. Here I had the 
pleasure of meeting my old friend Bach, who had aided me in 
my escape from my imprisonment at Glatz. He was poor, and 
in debt, and I procured him protection, by relating the noble 
manner in which he had behaved. I presented him with 500 
ducats, by the aid of which he pushed his fortune. He wrote to 
me in the year 1776, a letter of sincerest thanks, and died a 
colonel of hussars in the Danish service in 1779. 

I remained in Copenhagen but a fortnight, and then sailed in 
a Dutch ship from Elsineur for Amsterdam. Scarcely had we 
put to sea, before a storm arose, by which we lost a mast and 
our bowsprit, had our sails shattered, and were obliged to cast 
anchor among the rocks of Gottenburgh, where our deliverance 
was singularly fortunate. An honest Calmuc whom I had 
brought from llussia, and another of my servants, perished. I saw 
the first sink after I reached the shore. The kind Swedes 
brought me on board, and also righted and returned with the 
shallop. We weighed anchor, and sailed for the Texel, the 
mouth of which M'e saw, and the pilots coming off, when another 
storm arose, and drove us to the port of Bahus, in Norway, into 
which we ran without further damage. In some few days we 
again set sail, with a fair wind, and at length reached Am- 
sterdam. 

Here I made no long stay, for the day after my arrival an 
extraordinary adventure happened, in which I was engaged, 



Life of Baron Trenck. 47 

chiefly by my own rashness. I was a spectator while the har- 
pooners of the whale fishery were exercising themselves in 
darting their harpoons, most of whom were drunk. One of them, 
Herman Rogaar by name, a hero among these people for his 
dexterity with his snickasnee, came up, and passed some of his 
coarse jokes upon my Turkish sabre, and offered to fillip me 
upon the nose. I pushed him from me, and the fellow threw 
down his cap, drew his snickasnee, and challenged me, called 
me monkey tail, and asked whether I chose a straight, circular, 
or a cross cut? Thus, here was I, in this excellent company, 
with no choice, but that of either fighting or running away. 
The robust Herculean fellow grew more insolent, and 1, turning 
round to the bystanders, asked them to lend me a snickasnee. 
" No, no," said the challenger, " draw your great knife from 
your side, and, long as it is, I w'ill lay you a dozen ducats you 
get a gash in the cheek." I drew; he confidently advanced 
with his snickasnee, and, at the first stroke of my sabre, that, 
and the hand that held it, dropped to the ground, and the blood 
spouted in my face. 

I now expected the people w'ould, indubitably, tear me to 
pieces; but my fear was changed into astonishment at hearing 
a universal shout, applauding the vanquisher of the redoubted 
Herman Rogaar, who, so lately feared for his strength and 
dexterity, became the object of their ridicule. 

I left Amsterdam for the Hague, where I had been recom- 
mended to lord Holderness, the English ambassador, by lord 
Hynford. 

One Mr. Schneck sought my acquaintance at the Hague. I 
met with him at my hotel, where he entreated I w'ould take him 
to Nuremberg, whence he was to proceed to Saxony. I 
complied, and bore his expenses; but at Hanau, waking in the 
morning, I found my watch, set with diamonds, a ring worth two 
thousand rubles, a diamond snuff-box, with my mistress's picture, 
and my purse containing about 18 ducats, stolen from my bed 
side, and Schneck become invisible. Little affected by the loss 
of my money at any time, I yet was grieved for my snuff-box. 
The rascal, however, escaped, and it was fortunate the remain- 



48 Life of Baron Trenck. 



del' of my ready money, with my bills of exchange, were safely 
locked up. 

I now pursued my journey without company, and arrived at 
Vienna; I can not exactly recollect in what month, but I had 
been absent two years, and the reader will allow, that it was 
barely possible for any man, in so short a time, to have 
experienced more various changes of fate, though smaller in- 
cidents have been suppressed. 

Francis, Baron Trenck, died in the Spielberg, Oct. 4, 1749. It 
has been erroneously believed in Vienna, that his estates were 
confiscated by the sentence which condemned him to the 
Spielberg. He had committed no offence against the state, was 
accused of none, much less convicted. The court sentence was, 
that the administration of his estate should be committed to 
counsellor Kempt, and Baron Peyaczewitz, who were selected 
by himself, and the accounts of his stewards and farmers were to 
be sent to him yearly. He continued, till his death, to have the 
free and entire disposal of his property. 

The father of Baron Trenck, who died in the year 1743, 
governor of Leitschau, in Hungary, named me in his will the 
successor of his son, should he die without male heirs. He 
knew I was the legal claimant to his father's estates. His father 
had bought, with the family money remitted from Prussia, the 
lordships of Prestowacz and Pleternitz in Sclavonia, and he 
himself, during his father's life, and with his father's money, had 
purchased the lordship of Pakratz, for forty thousand florins. 
This must, therefore, also descend to me, he having no more 
power to will this from me, than he had the remainder of his 
paternal inheritance. 

Such was the state of affairs, as willed by Trenck, when I 
came to Vienna in 1750, where I arrived with money and jewels 
to the amount of 20,000 florins. Instead of profiting by the 
wealth Trenck had acquired, I expended 120,000 florins of my 
own money, including what devolved to me by my uncle, his 
father,' in the prosecution of his suits. 

How often have I repented I did not return to Berlin! I should 
have escaped ten years' imprisonment j should have received the 



L\f^ "f Baron Trench 49 



estates of Trenck, should not have wasted my prime of life in the 
litigation of suits, and the writing of memorials, and should have 
certainly been ranked among the first men in my native country. 
Vienna was no place for a man who could not tawn and flatter; 
yet here was I destined to remain six and thirty years, unre- 
warded, unemployed, and through youth and age to continue on 
the list of invalid majors. 

Once more to my story; I was obliged to take upon myself the 
management of sixty-three suits, and the expenses attending any 
one of these are well known to those acquainted with Vienna. 
My situation may be imagined, when I intorm the reader that 
I only received 300 florins from the estates of Trenck, in three 
years, which were scarcely sufficient to defray the expenses of 
new years' gifts to the solicitors and masters in chancery. 

In three years, however, I brought my sixty-three suits to a 
kind of conclusion; the probabilities were, this could not have 
been effected in fifty. 

In the year 1754, and the month of March, my mother died in 
Prussia, and I requested permission of the court that held the in- 
heritance of Trenck, as difidei commissum, to make a journey to 
Dantzic to settle with my brothers and sister, my estates being 
confiscated. This permission was granted, and thither I went 
in May, where I once more fell into the hands of the Prussians, 
which was the second great and still more important epocha in 
my life. All who read what follows will shudder, will com- 
miserate him, who^ feeling himself innocent, relates afflictions 
he has miserably encountered, and gloriously overcome. 

I left Hungary, where I was in garrison, for Dantzic, where I 
had desired my brothers and sister to meet me, that we might 
settle our affairs. My principal intent, however, was a journey 
to Petersburgh, there to seek the advice and aid of my friends, for 
law and persecution were not ended at Vienna; and my captain's 
pay and small income were scarcely sufficient to defray the 
charges of attorneys and counsellors. 

I was immediately visited by my brothers and sister, on my 
arrival at Dantzic, where we lived happy in each other's com- 
pany, during a fortnight, and an amicable partition was made 



50 Life of Baron Trench. 



of my mother's effects; my sister perfectly justified herself con- 
cerning the manner in which I was obliged to fly in the year 1746; 
our parting was kind, and as brother and sister ought to part. 

The day of supposed departure, on board a Swedish ship for 
Riga, approached, and the deceitful resident, Abrarason, promised 
to send one of his servants to the port to know the hour. About 
four in the afternoon, he told me he had himself spoken to the 
captain, w-ho said he should not sail till the next day; adding that 
he, Abramson, would expect me to breakfast, and would then 
accompany me to the vessel. I felt a secret inquietude, which made 
me desirous of leaving Dantzic, and immediately to send all my 
baggage, and sleep on board. Abramson prevented me, dragged 
me almost forcibly along with him, telling me he had much 
company, and that I must absolutely dine and sup at his house; 
accordingly I did not return to my inn till eleven at night. I 
was but just in bed when I heard a knocking at my door, which 
was not shut, and two of the city magistrates, with twenty 
grenadiers, entered my chamber, and surrounded my bed so sud- 
denly that I had not time to take my arms and defend myself. 
My three servants had been secured, and I was told that the most 
worthy magistracy of Dantzic was obliged to deliver me up, as 
a delinquent, to his majesty the king of Prussia. 

The next night, two magistrates, with their posse, came to my 
prison attended by resident Reimer, a Prussian officer, and other 
officers, and into their hands I was delivered. The pillage in- 
stantly began; Reimer tore off my ring, seized my watch, snuff 
box, and all I had; not so much as sending me a coat or shirt, 
from my effects; after which they put me into a close coach, 
with three Prussians. The Dantzic guard accompanied the 
carriage to the city gate, that was opened to let me pass, after 
which the Dantzic dragoons escorted me as far as Lunenburg, 
in Pomerania. 

I have forgotten the date of this miserable day, but to the best of 
my memory, it must have been in the beginning of June. Thirty 
Prussian hussars, commanded by a lieutenant, relieved the 
dragoons at Lunenberg, and thus was I guarded till I arrived at 
Berlin. 



-^i/^ o/" Baron Trench. 51 



I was escorted from garrison to garrison, which were distant 
from each other two, three, or at most five miles; wherever I 
came, I found compassion and respect. The detachment of 
hussars only attended me two days: it consisted of twelve men, 
and an officer, who rode with me in the carriage. 

The fourth day I arrived at ; where the Duke of 

Wirteraberg, father of the present Grand Duchess of Russia, 
was commander, and where his regiment was in quarters. The 
Duke conversed with me, was much moved, invited me to dine, 
and detained me all day, where I was not treated as a prisoner. 
I so far gained his esteem, that I was allowed to remain there 
the next day; the chief persons of the place were assembled, and 
the Duchess, whom he had lately married, testified every mark 
of pity and esteem, I stayed to dine with him also on the third 
day, after which I departed in an open carriage, without escort, 
attended only by a lieutenant of his regiment. 

In a small garrison town, I lodged in the house of a captain 
of cavalry, and continually was treated with every mark of 
friendship. After dinner, he rode at the head of his squadron to 
water the horse unsaddled. I remained alone in the house, 
entered the stable, saw three remaining horses, with saddles 
and bridles; in my chamber was a sword, and a pair of pistols. 
I had but to mount one of the horses and fly to the opposite gate. 
I meditated on the project, and almost resolved to put it into 
execution, but presently became undetermined by some secret 
impulse. The next day he accompanied me alone in his carriage: 
we came to a forest; he saw some champignons, stopped, asked 
me to alight, and help to gather them; he strayed more than a 
hundred paces from me, and gave me entire liberty to fly: yet 
notwithstanding all this, T voluntarily returned, suffering myself 
to be led, like a sheep to the slaughter. 

I was treated so well, and escorted with so much negligence, 
that I fell into a gross error. Perceiving they conveyed me 
straight to Berlin, I imagined the king wished to question me 
concerning the plan formed for the war, which was then on the 
point of breaking out. This plan I perfectly knew, the secret 
correspondence of Bestuchef having all passed through my 



52 Life of Baron Trench. 



hands, which circumstance was better known at Berlin than at 
Vienna. Confirmed in this opinion, and far from imagining the 
fate that awaited me, I remained irresolute, insensible, and blind 
to danger. Alas, how short was this hope! How quickly was it 
succeeded by despair, when, after lour days' march, I quitted the 
district under the command of the duke of Wirtemberg, and was 
delivered up to the garrison of infantry at Coffin. The last of 
the Wirtemberg officers, when taking leave of me, appeared to 
be greatly affected; and from this moment, till I came to Berlin, 
I was put under a strong escort, and the given orders were 
rigorously observed. 

Arrived here, I was lodged over the grand guard house, with 
two sentinels in my chamber, and one at my door. The king 
was at Potzdam, and here I remained three days: on the third, 
some staff officers made their appearance, seated themselves at a 
table, and put the following questions to me: 

First. What was my business at Dantzic? 

Secondly. Whether I was acquainted with M. Goltz, Prussian 
ambassador, in Russia? 

Thirdly. Who was concerned with me in the conspiracy at 
Dantzic? 

When I perceived their intention, by these interrogations, I 
absolutely refused to reply, only saying, 1 had been imprisoned 
in the fortress of Glatz, without hearing, or trial by court-mar- 
tial; that availing myself of the laws of nature, I had by my 
own exertions procured my liberty, and that I was now captain 
of cavalry in the imperial service; that I demanded a legal 
trial for my first unknown offence, after which I engaged to 
answer all interrogatories, and prove my innocence; but that at 
present, being accused of new crimes, without a hearing 
concerning my former punishment, the procedure was illegal. I 
was told they had no orders concerning this, and I remained 
dumb to all further questions. 

They wrote, some two hours, God knows what; a carriage 
came up; I was strictly searched, to find whether I had any 
w^eapons; thirteen or fourteen ducats, which I had concealed, 
were taken from me, and I was conducted under a strong escort, 



Life, of Baron Trcnck. 53 



through Spandaii to Magdebourg. The officer here delivered 
me up to the captain of the guard of the citadel, the town major 
came and brought me to the dungeon, expressly prepared lor '( 

me; a small picture of the countess of Bestuchef, set with 
diamonds, which I had kept concealed in my bosom, was now 
taken from me; the door was shut, and here was I left. 

My dungeon was in a casement, the fore part of which, six 
feet wide, and ten feet long, was divided by a party wall. In 
the inner wall were three doors, and a third at the entrance of 
the casement itself. The window in the seven feet thick wall 
was so situated, that though I had light I could see neither heaven 
nor earth; I could only see the roof of the magazine. Within 
and W'ithout this window were iron bars, and in the space be- 
tween an iron grating, so close, and so situated by the rising 
of the walls, that it was impossible I should see any person 
without the prison, or that any person should see me. On the 
outsid e was a wooden palisado, six feet from the wall, by 
which the sentinels were prevented from conveying anything to 
me. I had a matress and a bedstead, but which was immovable, 
ironed to the floor, so that it was impossible I should drag it and 
stand to the window; beside the door was a small iron stove, 
and a night table, in like manner fixed to the floor. 1 was not 
yet put in irons, and my allowance was a pound and an half per 
day of ammunition bread, and a jug of water. From my youth 
I had always had a good appetite, and my bread was so mouldy 
I could scarcely at first eat the half of it. This was the conse- 
quence of Major Reiding's avarice, who endeavored to profit 
even by this, so great was the number of unfortunate prisoners, 
therefore it is impossible to describe the excess of tortures that, 
during eleven months, I felt from ravenous hunger. 

My three doors were kept ever shut, and I was left to such 
meditations as such feelings and such hopes might inspire. 
Daily about noon, once in twenty-four hours my pittance of 
bread and w^ater was brought, the keys of all the doors were 
kept by the governor; th - inner door was not opened, but my 
bread and water were delivered through an aperture. The 
prison doors were opened only once a week, on a Wednesday, 
5 



54 Life of Baron Trenck. 



when the governor and town major, my hole having been first 
cleaned, paid their visit. 

Having remained thus two months, and observed this method 
was invariable, I began to execute a project I had formed, of the 
possibility of which I was convinced. Where the night table 
and stove stood, the floor was bricked, and this paving extended 
to the wall that separated my casement from the adjoining one, in 
which was no prisoner. My window was only guarded by a 
single sentinel j I therefore soon found among those who success- 
ively relieved guard, two kind hearted fellows, who described to 
me the situation of my prison; hence I perceived I might effect 
my escape, could 1 but penetrate into the adjoining casement, 
the door of which was not shut, provided I had a friend, and a 
boat waiting for me at the Elbe, or could I swim across that 
river; the confines of Saxony were but a mile distant. 

To describe my plan at length, would lead to prolixity, yet I 
must enumerate some of its circumstances, as it was remarkably 
intricate, and of gigantic labor. 

I worked through the iron, eighteen inches long, by which 
the night table was fastened, and broke^off the clinchings of the 
nails, but preserved their heads, that I might put them in their 
places, and all might appear secure to my visitors. This pro- 
cured me tools to raise up the brick floor under which I found 
earth. My first attempt was to work a hole through the wall, 
seven feet thick behind, and concealed by the night table. The 
first layer was of brick. I afterwards came to large hewn stones. 
I endeavored accurately to number and remember the bricks, 
both of the flooring and the wall, so that I might replace them, 
and all appear safe; this having been accomplished, I proceeded. 

The day preceding visitation, all was carefully replaced, and 
the intervening mortar as carefully preserved; the whole had 
probably been whitewashed an hundred times, and that I might 
fill up all remaining interstices, I pounded the white stuff" this 
afforded, wet it, made a brush of my hair, then applied this 
plaster, washed it over that the color might be uniform, and 
afterwards stripped myself and sat with the heat of my naked 
body against the place, by the heat of which it was dried. While 



Life of Baron Trenck. 55 



laboring, I placed the stones and bricks upon my bedstead, and 
had they taken the precaution to come at any other time in (ho 
week, the stated Weihiesday excepted, I had enevitably been 
discovered; but as no such ill accident befell me, in six months 
my Herculean labors gave me a prospect of success. 

Means were to be found to remove the rubbish from my prison; 
all of which, in a wall so thick, it was impossible to replace; 
mortar and stone could not be removed. 1 therefore took the 
earth, scattered it about my chamber, and ground it under my 
feet the whole day, till I had reduced it to dust; this dust I 
strewed in the aperture of my window, making useof the loosened 
night table to stand upon. I tied splinters from my bedstead 
together with the ravelled yarn of an old stocking, and to this 
affixed a tuft of my hair. I worked a large hole under the middle 
grating, which could not be seen when standing on the ground, 
and through this I pushed the dust, with the tool I had prepared, 
to the outer window, then, waiting till the wind should happen 
to rise, during the night, I brushed it away; it was blown off, 
and no appearance remained on the outside. By this single 
expedient, I rid myself of at least three hundied pounds weight 
of earth, and thus made room to continue my labor — yet, this 
being still insufficient, I had recourse to another artifice, which 
was, to knead up the earth in the form of sausages, to resemble 
the human feces; these I dried, and when the prisoner came to 
clean my dungeon, hastily tossed them into the night table, and 
thus disencumbered myself of a pound or two more of earth, 
each week. I further made little balls, and when the sentinel 
was walking, blew them through a paper tube, out of the 
window. Into the empty space I put my mortar and stones, and 
worked on successfully. I can not, however, describe my diffi- 
culties after having penetrated about two feet into the hewn 
stone. My tools were the irons I had dug out, which fastened 
my bedstead and night table. A compassionate soldier, also gave 
me an old ramrod, and a soldier's sheath kuife, which did 'ne 
excellent service, more especially the latter, as 1 shall presently 
more fully show. With these I cut splinters from my bedstead, 
which aided me to pick the mortar from the interstices of the 



56 Life of Baron Trenck. 



stone; yet the labor of penetrating through this seven feet wall 
was incredible; the building was ancient, and the mortar, occa- 
sionally, quite petrified, so that the whole stone was obliged to 
be reduced to dust. After continuing my work unremittingly 
for six months, I at length approached the accomplishment of my 
hopes, as I knew, by coming to the facing of brick, which was 
now only between me and the adjoining casement. 

Mean time I found opportunity to speak to some of the sen- 
tinels, among whom was an old grenadier called Gefhardt, 
whom I here name, because he displayed qualities of the 
greatest and most noble kind. From him I learned the precise 
situation of my prison, and every circumstance that might best 
conduce to my escape. 

Nothing was wanting but money to buy a boat, and crossing 
the Elbe with Gefhardt, to take refuge in Saxony. By Gef- 
hardt's means, I became acquainted with a kind-hearted girl, a 
Jewess, and a native of Dessau, Esther Heymannin by name, 
and whose father had been ten years in'prison. This good, com- 
passionate maiden, whom I had never seen, won over two other 
grenadiers, who gave her an opportunity of speaking to me 
every time they stood sentinel. By tying my splinters together 
I made a stick long enough to reach beyond the palisados before 
my window, and thus obtained paper, another knife, and a file. 

I now wrote to my sister, the wife of the before mentioned 
only son of General Waldow, described my situation, and en- 
treated her to remit three hundred rix dollars to the Jewess, 
hoping by this means I might escape from my prison. Esther 
cheerfully departed for Hammer, where my sister, then a widow, 
and no longer, as in 1746, in dread of her husband, joyful to 
hear I was still living, immediately gave her the three hundred 
rix dollars, exhorting her to exert every possible'means to obtain 
my deliverance. Esther hastened back, with^the letter from my 
sister to me, to Berlin, and told me all that had passed. 

The king came to a review at Magdebourg, when he visited 
the Star Fort, and commanded a new cell to be immediately 
made, prescribing, himself, the kind of irons by which I was to 
be secured. The honest Gefhardt heard the officer say this cell 



Life of Baron Trenck. Sit' 



was meant for me; gave me notice of it, but assured me it coulil 
not be ready in less than a month. I therefore determined, as 
soon as possible, to complete my breach in the wall, and escape 
without the aid of any one. The thing was possible, for I twisted 
the hair of my matress into a rope, which I meant to tie to a 
cannon, and descend the rampart, after which I might swim 
across the Elbe, gain the Saxon frontiers, and thus^safely escape. 
On the 26th of May I had determined to break into the next 
casement, but when I came to work at the bricks, I found them 
so hard and strongly cemented, that I was obliged to defer the 
labor to the following day. I left off, weary and spent, at 
daybreak, and should any one enter my dungeon, they must 
infallibly discover the breach. How dreadful is the destiny by 
which, through life, I have been persecuted, and which has 
continually plunged me headlong into calamity, when I imagined 
happiness was at hand! 

The 27th of May was a cruel day in the history of my life. 
My cell in the Star Fort had been finished sooner than Gef hardt 
had supposed; and at night, when I was preparing to fly, I 
heard a carriage stop before my prison. Oh God! what was 
my terror, what were the horrors of this moment of despair! 
The locks and bolts resounded, the doors flew open, and the last 
of my poor remaining resources was to conceal my knife. The 
town-major, the major of the day, and a captain entered: I saw 
them by the light of their two lanterns. The only words they 
spoke, were, " dress yourself," which was immediately done. I 
still wore the uniform of the regiment of Cordova. Irons were 
given me, which I was obliged myself to fasten on my wrists and 
ancles; the town major tied a bandage over my eyes, and taking 
me under the arm, they thus conducted me to the carriage. It 
was necessary to pass through the city to arrive at the Star Fort. 
All was silent, except the noise of the escort; but when we 
entered Magdebourg, I heard the people running, who were 
crowding together, to obtain a sight of me. Their curiosity Avas 
raised by the report that I was going to be beheaded. That I 
was executed on this occasion, in the Star Fort, after having 
been conducted blind-folded through the city, has since been 



18 Life of Baron Trenck. 



)oth affirmed and written, and the officers had then orders to 
Diopagate this error, that the world might remain in utter igno- 
[•ance concerning me. I, indeed, knew otherwise, though I 
iiffected not to have this knowledge; and as I was not gagged, I 
behaved as if I expected death — reproached my conducters in 
!an2fuaee that even made them shudder, and painted their 
king in his true colours, as one who, unheared, had condemned 
an innocent subject by a despotic exertion of power. My 
fortitude was admired, at the moment when it was supposed I 
thought myself leading to execution. No one replied, but their 
sighs intimated their compassion: certain it is, few Prussians 
willingly execute such commands. The carriage at length 
' stopped, and I was brought into my new cell. 

The bandage was taken from ray eyes. The dungeon wms 
lighted by a few torches. God of heaven! what were my feel- 
ings when 1 beheld the whole floor covered with chains, a fire 

pan, and two grim men standing with their smith hammers! 

***** 

To work went these engines of despotism; enormous chains 
I were fixed to my ancle at one end, and at the other to a ring 
which was incorporated in the wall. This ring was three feet 
From the ground, and only allowed me to move about two or 
three feet to the right and left. They next riveted another 
huge iron ring, of a hand's breadth, round my naked body, to 
which hunp; a chain fixed into an iron bar as thick as a man's 
arm. This bar was two feet in length, and at each end of it 
was a handcuff. The iron collar round my neck was not added 

till the year 1756. 

***** 

No soul bade me good night. All retired in dreadful silence, 
and I heard the horrible grating of four doors that were 
successively locked and bolted upon me! Thus doth man act 
by his fellow, knowing him to be innocent, having received the 
commands of another man so to act. 

Sad experience had I of Vienna, and well I knew those who 
had despoiled me of my property, most anxiously would endea- 
vor to prevent my return. Such were my meditations! Such 



Life of Baron Trenck. 59 



my night thoughts! Day at length returned; but where was its 
splendor fled? I beheld it not. Yet was its glimmering 
obscurity sufficient to show me what was my dungeon. 

In breadth it was about eight feet; in length, ten. Near me 
once more stood a night table; in a corner was a seat four 
bricks broad, on which I might sit, and recline against the 
wall. Opposite the ring to which I was fastened, the light was 
admitted through a semi-circular aperture, one foot high, and 
two in diameter. This aperture ascended to the centre of the 
wall, which was six feet thick, and at its central part was a 
close iron grating, from which, outward, the aperture descended, 
and its two extremities were again secured by strong iron bars. 
My dungeon was built in the ditch of the fortification and the 
aperture, by which the light entered, was so covered by the 
wall of the rampart, that, instead of finding immediate passage, 
the light only gained admission by reflection. This, considering 
the smallness of the aperture, and the impediments of grating 
and iron bars, must needs make the obscurity great, yet my eyes, 
in time, became so accustomed to this glimmering, that I could 
see a mouse run. In winter, however, when the sun did not 
shine in the ditch, it was eternal night with mc. Between the 
bars and the grating was a glass window, with a small central 
casement, which might be opened to admit air. My night table 
was daily removed, and beside me stood a jug of water. The 
name of Trenck was built in the wall, in red brick, and under 
my feet was a tomb-stone, with the name of Trenck also cut on 
it, and carved with a death's head. The doors to my dungeon 
were double, of oak, two inches thick; without these there was 
an open space, or front cell, in which was a window, and this 
space was likewise shut in by double doors. The ditch in which 
this dreadful den was built was enclosed, on both sides, by 
palisados twelve feet high, the key of the door of which was 
entrusted to the officer of the guard, it being the king's intention 
to prevent all possibility of speech or communication with the 
sentinels. The only motion I had the power to make, was that 
of jumping upwards, or swinging my arms, to procure myself 
warmth. When more accustomed to these fetters, I was like- 



to Life of Baron Trenck.l 



wise capable of moving from side to side, about four feet; but 
this pained ray shin bones. 

The cell had been finished with lime and plaster but eleven 
days, and every body supposed it would be impossible I should 
exist in these damps above a fortnight. I remained six months 
continually immersed in water, that trickled upon me from the 
brick arches under which I was; and I can safely affirm, that 
for the first three months, I was never dry; yet did I continue 
in health. I was visited daily at noon, after relieving guard, 
and the doors were then obliged to be left open some minutes, 
otherwise the dampness of the air put out their candles. 

This was my situation, and here I sat, destitute of friends, 
helplessly wretched, preyed on by all the torture of thought, 
that continually suggested the most gloomy, the most dreadful 
of images. My heart was not yet wholly turned to stone, my 
fortitude was wholly sunken to despondency; my dungeon was 
the very cave of despair, yet was ray arm restrained; yet was 
this excess of misery endured. 

How then, may hope be wholly eradicated from the heart of 
man! My fortitude, after some time, began to revive: I glowed 
with the desire of convincing the world I was capable of 
suflfering what man had never before suffered; perhaps, of at 
last emerging from this load of wretchedness, triumphant over my 
enemies. 

So long, and ardently, did my fancy dwell on this picture, 
that my mind at length acquired a heroism which Socrates 
himself certainly never possessed. 

Age had benumbed his sense of pleasure, and he drank the 
poisonous draught with cool indifference. I was young, inured 
to high hopes, yet now^ beholding deliverance impossible, or at 
an immense, a dreadful distance. Such, too, were the sufferings 
of soul and body, I could not hope they might be supported and 
live. 

About noon, my den was opened. Sorrow and compassion 
were painted on the countenances of my keepers. No one spoke. 
No one bid me good morrow. 

Dreadful indeed, was their arrival; for, unaccustomed to the 



Life of Baron Trench. SI 



monstrous bolts and bars, they kept resounding, for a full half 
hour, before such soul-chilling, such hope-murdering impediments 
were removed. It was the voice of tyranny that thundered! 

My night-table was taken out; a camp bed, matress and 
blankets were brought me; a jug of water sat down, and beside 
it an ammunition loaf of six pounds weight. "That you may 
no more complain of hunger," said the town-major, " you shall 
have as much bread as you can eat." The door was shut, and 
I again left to my thoughts. 

What a strange thing is that called happiness ! How shall I ex- 
press my extreme joy, when, after eleven months of intolerable 
hunger, I was again indulged with a full feast of ammunition 
bread? The fond lover never rushed more eagerly to the arms 
of his expecting bride; the famished tiger more ravenously on 
his prey, than I upon this loaf! I ate, rested, surveyed the 
precious morsel, ate again, and absolutely shed tears of pleasure. 
Breaking bit after bit, I had, by evening, devoured all my loaf. 

Oh Nature! what delight hast thou combined with the gratifi- 
cation of thy wants! Remember this, ye who rack invention 
to excite appetite, and which yet you cannot procure; remember 
how simple are the means that will give a crust of mouldy bread 
a flavor more exquisite than all the spices of the East, or all 
the profusions of land or sea; remember this, grow hungry, and 
indulge your sensuality. 

Alas! my enjoyment was of short duration. I soon found 
that excess is followed by pain and repentance. My fasting 
had weakened digestion, and rendered it inactive. My body 
swelled, my water jug was emptied, cramps, colics, and, at 
length, inordinate thirst racked me all the night. I began to 
pour curses on those who seem to refine on torture, and after 
starving me so long, to invite me to gluttony. Could I not 
have reclined on my bed, I should indeed have been driven this 
night to desperation; yet, even this was but a partial relief; for, 
not accustomed to my enormous fetters, I could not extend 
myself in them in the same manner I was afterwards taught to 
do by habit. I dragged them, however, so together, as to enable 
me to sit down on the bare matress. This, of all my nights of 



62 Life of Baron Trenck. 



suffering, stands foremost. When they opened my dungeon 
next day, they found me in a truly pitiable situation, wondered 
at my appetite, brought me another loaf, I refused to accept it, 
believing I never more should have occasion for bread; they, 
however, left me one; gave me water, shrugged up their 
shoulders, wished me farewell, as, according to all appearance, 
they never expected to find me alive, and shut all the doors, 
without asking whether I wished or needed farther assistance. 

Three days had passed before I could again eat a morsel of 
bread. Brave in health, now, in a sick body, I became pusilla- 
nimous, so I determined on death. The irons were every where 
round my body, and their weight was insupportable; nor could 
I imagine it was possible I should habituate myself to them, or 
endure them long enough to expect deliverance; peace was a 
very distant prospect. The king had commanded that such a 
prison should be built as should exclude all necessity of a sentinel, 
in order that I might not converse with and seduce them from 
their duty; and in the first days of despair, deliverance appeared 
impossible, and the fetters, the war, the pain I felt, the place, 
the length of time, each circumstance seemed equally impossible 
to support. A thousand reasons convinced me it was necessary 
to end my suflferings. I shall not enter into theological disputes, 
let those who blame me imagine themselves in my situation; or 
rather, let them first actually endure my miseries, and then let 
them reason. I had often braved death in prosperity, and at 
this moment it seemed a blessing. 

Full of these meditations, every man's patience appeared 
absurdity, and resolution meanness of soul; yet I wished my 
mind should be satisfied that reason, and not rashness, had in- 
duced the act. I therefore determined, that I might examine the 
question coolly, to wait a week longer, and die on the 4th of 
July. In the mean time I revolved in my mind what possibility 
there was of escape, not fearing, naked and chained, to rush and 
expire on the bayonets of my enemies. 

The next day I observed, as four doors were opened, that they 
were of wood, therefore questioned whether [ might not even 
cut off the locks with the knife that I had so fortunately con- 



Life of Baron Trcnck. |§ 



cealed, and should this, and every other means fail, then wouUl 
be the time to die. I likewise determined to make an attempt 
even to free myself of njy chains. I happily forced my rirrht 
hand through the handcuff, though the blood trickled Irom my 
nails. My attempts on the left were long ineffectual, but, by 
rubbing with a brick, which 1 got from my seat, on the rivet 
that had been negligently closed, I effected this also. 

The chain was fastened to the rim round my body by a hook, 
one end of which was not inserted in the rim, therefore by 
setting my foot against the wall, I had strength enoug-h so far to 
bend this hook back, and open it, as to force out the link of the 
chain. The remaining difficulty was the chain that attached my 
foot to the wall; the links of this I took, doubled, twisted, and 
wrenched, till at length, nature having bestowed on me great 
strength, I made a desperate effort, sprang forcibly up, and two 
links at once flew off. 

Fortunate indeed did I think myself; I hastened to the door, 
groped in the dark to find the clinchings of the nails by which 
the lock was fastened, and discovered no very large piece of 
wood need be cut. Immediately I went to work with my knife? 
and cut the oak door to find its thickness, which proved to be 
only one inch, therefore it was possible to open all the four doors 
in four and twenty hours. 

Again hope revived in my heart. To prevent detection, I 
hastened to put on my chains; but, Oh God! what difficulties 
had I to surmount! After much groping about, I at length 
found the link that had flown off; this 1 hid. It had been my 
good fortune hitherto to escape examination, as the possibility 
of ridding myself of such chains was in no wise suspected. 

The separated links I tied together with my hair ribbon: but, 
when I again endeavored to force my hand into the ring, it was 
so swelled that every effort was fruitless. The whole night was 
employed upon the rivet, but all labor was in vain. 

Noon was the hour of visitation, and necessity and danger 
again obliged me to attempt forcing my hand in, which at length, 
after excruciating torture, I effected. My visitors came, and 
every thing had the appearance of order. I found it, however. 



64 Life of Baron Trenck. 



impossible to force out my right hand while it continued 
swelled. 

1 therefore remained quiet till the day fixed, and on the deter- 
mined fourth of July, immediately as my visitors had closed the 
doors upon me, I disencumbered myself from my irons, took my 
knife and began my*Herculean labor on the door. The first of 
the double doors that opened inwards, was conquered in less than 
an hour; the other was a very different task. The lock was 
soon cut round, but it opened outwards; there were, therefore, 
no other means left, but to cut the whole door away above the 
bar. 

This incessant and incredible labor made it possible, though 
it was more difficult, as every thing was done by feeling, I being 
totally in the dark; the sweat dropped, or rather flowed from ray 
body; my fingers were clotted with my own blood, and my 
lacerated hands were one continued wound. 

Day light appeared; I clambered over the door that was cut 
half away, and got up to the window in the space or cell that 
was between the double doors, as before described. Here I saw 
my dungeon was in the ditch of the first rampart; before me I 
beheld the road from the rampart, the guard but fifty paces 
distant, and the high palisados that were in the ditch, and must 
be scaled before I could reach the rampart. Hope grew stronger; 
my efforts were redoubled. The first of the next double doors 
was attacked, which likewise opened inward, and was soon con- 
quered. The sun set before I had ended this, and the fourth was 
to be cut away, as the second had been. My strength failed; 
both my hands were raw; I rested a while, began again, and 
had made a cut of a foot long, when my knife snapped, and the 
broken blade dropped to the ground. 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 

God of Omnipotence! what was I at this moment? Was there, 
God of mercies! was there ever creature of thine more justified 
than I in despair? The moon shone clear; I cast a wild dis- 
tracted look up to Heaven, fell on my knees, and in the agony 
of my soul sought comfort, but no comfort could be found, nor 
religion, nor philsophy had any to give. I cursed not providence, 



Life of Baron Trenck. <i| 



I feared not annihilation, I dared not Almighty vengennce; God 
the creator, was the disposer of my fate; and if he heaped 
afflictions upon me he had not given me strength to support, his 
jastice would not therefore punish me. To him, the judge of 
the quick and the dead, I committed my soul, seized the broken 
knife, gashed through the veins of ray left arm and foot, sat 
myself tranquilly down, and saw the blood flow. Nature over- 
powered, I fainted, and know not how long I remained slumbering 
in this state. Suddenly I heard my own name, awoke, and again 
heard the words, Baron Trenck! My answer was, who calls? 
And who indeed was it? who but my honest grenadier, Gefhardt, 
my former faithful friend in the citadel! The good, the kind 
fellow, had got upon the rampart that he might comfort me. 

" How do you do? " said Gefhardt. " Weltering in my blood," 
answered I," to-morrow you will find me dead." " Why should 
you die?" replied he, " It is much easier for you to escape here 
than at the citadel. Here is no sentinel, and I shall soon find 
means to provide you with tools; if you can only break out, leave 
the rest to me. As often as I am on guard I will seek oppor- 
tunity to speak to you. In the whole Star Fort there are but 
two sentinels, the one at the entrance, and (he other at the 
guard house. Do not despair, God will succor you; trust to 
me." The good man's kindness and discourse revived my hopes. 
A secret joy diffused itself through my soul. I immediately tore 
my shirt, bound up my wounds, and waited the approach of day, 
and the sun, soon after, shone through the window to me with 
unaccustomed brightness. 

Let the reader judge how far it was chance, how far the effect 
of divine providence, that in this dreadful hour my heart again 
received hope. Who was it sent the honest Gefhardt at such a 
moment to my prison? For, had it not been for him, I had 
certainly, when I awoke from my slumbers, cut more effectually 
through my arteries. Till noon I had time to consider what 
might further be done; yet, what could be done, what expected, 
but that I should now be much more cruelly treated, and even 
insupportably ironed than before; finding, as they must, the doors 
cut through, and ray fetters shaken off. 



Life of Baron Trenck. 



After mature consideration, I therefore made the following 
resolution, which succeeded admirably, and even beyond my hopes. 
Before I proceed, however, I will speak a few words concerning 
my then situation. It is impossible to describe how much I was 
exhausted. The prison swam with blood, and, certainly, there 
was but little left in my body. With painful wounds, swollen 
and torn hands, I there stood shirtless, felt an inclination to 
sleep almost irresistible, and scarcely had strength to keep my 
legs, yet I was obliged to rouse myself, that I might execute 
my plan. 

With the bar that separated my hands, I loosened the bricks 
of my seat, which being newly laid was easily done, and 
heaped them up in the middle of my prison. The inner door 
was quite open, and with my chains I so barricaded the upper 
half of the second, as to prevent any one climbing over it. 
When noon came, and the first of the doors was unlocked, all 
were astonished to find the second open. There I stood, a des- 
perate man, besmeared with blood, the picture of horror, with 
a brick in one hand, and in the other my broken knife, crying, 
as they approached: "Keep off, Mr. Major, keep off! Tell the 
governor I will live no longer in chains, and that here I stand, 
if he so pleases, to be shot, for so only will I be conquered. Here 
no man shall enter, I will destroy all that approach, here are my 
weapons, here will I die in despite of tyranny." The major was 
terrified, wanted resolution, and made his report to the governor. 
I, mean time, sat down on my bricks, to wait what might hap- 
pen,* my secret intent, however, was not so desperate as it 
appeared; I sought only to obtain a favorable capitulation. 

The governor, General Borck, presently came, attended by the 
town major and several officers, and entered the outward cell, 
but sprang back the moment he beheld a figure like me, standing 
with a brick and uplifted arm. I repeated what I had told the 
major, and he immediately ordered six grenadiers to force the 
door. The front cell was scarcely six feet broad, so that no 
more than two at a time could attack my entrenchment, and 
when they saw my threatening bricks ready to descend, they 
leaped, terrified, back. A short pause ensued, and the old town 



Life of Baron Trenck. 67 



major, with the chaplain, endeavored to sooth me; the conver- 
sation continued some time. Whose reasons were most satis- 
factory, and whose cause was the most just, I leave to the reader. 
The governor grew angry and ordered a fresh attack. The first 
grenadier was knocked down, and the rest ran back to avoid my 
missiles. 

The town major again began a parley: " For God's sake, my 
dear Trenck," said he, " in what have I injured you that you 
endeavor to effect my ruin? I must answer for your having, 
through my negligence, concealed a knife. Be persuaded, I en- 
treat you, be appeased. You are not without hope nor friends." 
My answer was, "but will you not load me with heavier irons 
than before?" 

He went out, spoke with the governor, and gave me his word 
of honor, that the affair should be no further noticed, and that 
every thing should be exactly reinstated as formerly. 

Here ended the capitulation, and my wretched citadel was 
taken. The condition I was in, was viewed with pity, my 
wounds were examined, a surgeon sent to dress them, another 
shirt was given me, and the bricks, clotted with blood, removed. 
I, mean time, lay half dead on my matress; my thirst was exces- 
sive, the surgeon ordered me some wine 5 two sentinels were 
stationed in the front cell, and I was thus left four days in peace, 
unironed. Broth was also given me daily, and how delicious 
was this to taste, how much it revived and strengthened me, is 
wholly impossible to describe. Two days I lay in a slumbering 
kind of trance, forced by unquenchable thirst to drink whenever 
I awoke. My hands and feet were swelled; the pains in my 
back and limbs were excessive. 

On the fifth day the doors were ready, the inner was entirely 
plated with iron, and I was fettered as before; perhaps they 
found further cruelty unnecessary. The principal chain, how- 
ever, which fastened me to the wall like that which had before 
broken, was thicker than the first. They deeply regretted, that, 
without the king's express commands, they could not lighten my 
afflictions — wished me fortitude and patience, and barred my 
doors. 



68 Lifef Baron Trenc/c 



It is necessary 1 should here describe my dress. My hands 
being fixed and kept asunder by an iron bar, and my feet chained 
to the wall, I could neither put on my shirt nor stockings in the 
usual mode; the shirt was therefore tied, and changed once a 
fortnight — stockings buttoned on the sides; a blue garment of 
soldier's cloth was tied round me, and I had a pair of slippers 
for my feet. The shirt was of the army linen, and when I 
contemplated myself in this dress of a malefactor, chained thus to 
the wall, in such a dungeon, vainly imploring mercy and justice, 
my conscience void of reproach, my heart of guilt, when I 
reflected on my former splendor in Berlin and Moscow, and com- 
pared it with this sad, this dreadful reverse of destiny, I was 
sunk in grief, or roused to indignation, that might have hurried 
the greatest hero or philosopher to madness or despair. I felt 
what can only be imagined by him who has suffered like me, 
after having like me flourished, if such can be found. 

Pride, the justness of my cause, the unbounded confidence I 
had in my own resolution, and the labors of an inventive head 
and iron body, these only could have preserved my life. These 
bodily labors, these continued inventions, and projected plans 
to obtain freedom, preserved my health. Who would suppose, 
that a man, fettered as I was, could find means of exercising 
himself? By swinging my arms, acting with the upper part of 
my body, and leaping upward, I frequently put myself in a 
strong perspiration. After thus wearing myself, I slept soundly, 
and often thought how many generals, obliged to support all the 
inclemencies of w^eather, and the dangers of the field; how many 
of those who had plunged me into this den of misery, would 
have been most glad, could they, like me, have slept with a 
quiet conscience. Often did I reflect how much happier I was, 
than those tortured on the bed of sickness, by gout, stone, or other 
diseases terrible to man. How much happier was I in innocence 
than the malefactor, doomed to suffer the pangs of death, the 
ignominy of men, and the horrors of eternal guilt 

In the following part of my history, it will appear I often had 
much money concealed under the ground and the walls of my 
den, yet if I would have given a hundred ducats for a morsel of 



Life of Baron Treiick. ^ 



bread, it could not hive been procured. Money was to rfie use- 
less. In this I resembled the miser, who hoard:^, yet lives in 
wretchedness, having no joy in gentle acts of benevolence. As 
proudly might I delight myself with my hidden treasure as such 
misers, nay more, for I was secure from robbers. 

Gefhardt, my honest grenadier, had infused fresh hope, and 
my mind now busily began to meditate new plans. A sentinel 
had been placed before my door, that I might be more narrowly 
watched, and the married men of the Prussian states were 
appointed to this duty, who, as I shall hereafter show, were 
more easy to persuade in aiding my flight, than foreign fugitives. 
The Pomeranian will listen, and is kind-natured, therefore may 
easily be moved, and induced to succor distress. 

I began to be more accustomed to my irons, which I before 
found so insupportable; I could comb out my long hair, and 
could tie it at last with one hand. My beard, which had so long 
remained unshaven, gave me a grim appearance, and I began to 
pluck it out by the roots. The pain was at first considerable, 
especially round the lips; but this also custom conquered, and I 
performed this operation in the following years, once in six 
weeks, or two months; as the hair thus plucked up, required 
that length of time before the nails could again get hold. Ver- 
min did not molest me; the dampness of my den was inimical to 
them. My limbs never swelled, because of the exercise I gave 
myself, as before described. The greatest pain I found, was in 
the continual unvivifying dampness in which I lived. 

I had read much, I had loved it, and seen much of the world; 
vacuity of thought, therefore, I was little troubled with; the 
former transactions of my life; what had happened, and the 
remembrance of the persons I had known, I revolved so often 
in my mind, that they became as familiar and connected as if 
the events had each been written in the order it occurred. Habit 
made this mental exercise so perfect to me, that I could compose 
speeches, fables, odes, satires, all of which I repealed aloud, and 
had so stored my memory with them, that I was enabled, after I 
had obtained my freedom, to commit to writing two volumes of 
these my prison labors. 
6 



70 Life of Baron Trench. 



The greatest of all my incitements to patient endui*ance, was 
love. I had left behind me, in Vienna, a lady, for whom the 
world was still dear to me; her I would neither desert nor afflict. 
To her and my sister, was my existence still necessary. 

About three weeks after my attempt to escape, the good Gef- 
hardt first came to stand sentinel over me: and the sentinel they 
had so carefully set was, indeed, the only hope I could have of 
escape, for help must be had from without, or this was impossible. 

The efforts I had made excited too much surprise and alarm 
for me to pass without strict examination, since on the ninth 
day after I was confined I had, in eighteen hours, so far broken 
through a prison built purposely for myself, by a combination of 
so many projectors, and with such precaution, which prison had 
universally been declared impenetrable. 

Gefhardt had scarcely taken his post before we had free 
opportunity of conversing together; for when I stood with one 
foot on my bedstead I could reach the aperture through which 
light was admitted. 

Gefhardt described the situation of my dungeon, and our first 
plan was to break through the foundation, which he had seen 
laid, and which he affirmed to be only two feet deep. 

Money was the first necessary. Gefhardt was relieved during 
his guard, and returned, bringing with him a sheet of paper, 
rolled on wire, which he passed through my grating; after which 
a piece of small wax candle, some burning araadone, a kind of 
tinder, a match and pen. I now had light, pricked my finger, 
and wrote, with my blood, to my good friend, Capt. Ruckhardt, 
at Vienna, described my situation in a few words, sent him an 
acquittance for three thousand florins on my revenues, and re- 
quested he would dispose of a thousand florins to defray the 
expenses of his journey to Gummern, only two miles from Mag- 
debourg. Here he was to positively be on the 13th of August. 
About noon, on the same day, he was to walk, with a letter in 
his hand; a man was there to meet him, smoking a roll of to- 
bacco, to whom he was to remit the two thousand florins, and 
return to Vienna. 

I returned the written paper to Gefhardt, by the same means 



Life of Baron Trench. 71 



it had been received, gave him my instructions, and he s^t his 
wife with it to Gumniern, by whom it was safely put in the post. 
My hopes daily rose, and as often as Gef hardt mounted guard, 
so often did we continue our projections. The 13th of August 
came, but it was some days before Gef hardt was again on guard, 
and oh! how did my heart palpitate when he came and exclaimed, 
" all is right, we have succeeded." He returned in the evening, 
and we began to consider by what means he should convey the 
money to me. I could not, with my hands chained to an iron 
bar, reach to the aperture of the window that admitted air, be- 
sides that it was too small. It was therefore agreed that Gef- 
hardt should, on the next guard, perform the office of cleaning 
my dungeon, and that he then should convey the money to me 
in the water jug. 

This luckily was done. How great was my astonishment when, 
instead of one, I found two thousand florins! For I had per- 
mitted him to reserve half to himself, as a reward for his fidelity. 
He, however, had kept but five pistoles, which he persisted was 
enough. 

Worthy Gef hardt ! his was the act of a Pomeranian grenadier ! 
how rare are such examples! Be thy name and mine ever united. 
Live thou while the memory of me shall live. Never did my 
acquaintance wMth the great bring to my knowledge a soul so 
noble, so disinterested. It is true, I afterwards prevailed on him 
to accept the whole thousand; but we shall soon see he never 
had them, and that his foolish wife, three years after, suffered by 
their means; however, she suffered alone, for he soon marched 
to the field, and therefore was unpunished. 

Having money to carry on my designs, I began to put my plan, 
of burrowing under the foundation, into execution. The first 
thing necessary, was to free myself from my fetters. To accom- 
plish this, Gefhardt supplied me with two small files, and by the 
aid of these this labor, though great, was effected. 

The cap, or staple of the foot ring was made so wide, that I 
could draw it forward a quarter of an inch; J filed the iron which 
passed through it on the inside, and the more 1 fileil this away, 
the further I could draw the cap down, till at last, the whole in- 



72 Life of Baron Trench. 



4^ 

side iron, through which the chain passed, was quite cut through; 
by this means I could slip off the ring, while the cap on the 
outside continued whole, and it was impossible to discover my 
cut, as only the outside could be examined. My hands, by con- 
tinued efforts, I so compressed, as to be able to draw them out of 
the handcuffs. I then filed the hinge and made a screw-driver 
of one of the foot long flooring nails, by which I could take out 
the screws at pleasure, so that at the time of examination, no 
proofs could appear. The rim round my body was but a small 
impediment, except the chain, which passed from my hand bar, 
and that I removed by filing an aperture in one of the links, which, 
at the necessary hour was readily replaced; and would wager 
any sum that, without striking the chain, link by link with a 
hammer, no one, not in the secret, would have discovered this 
fracture. 

The wnndow was never strictly examined; I therefore drew 
the two staples by which the iron bars were fixed to the wall, 
and which I daily replaced, carefully plastering them over. I 
procured wire from Gef hardt, and tried how well I could imitate 
our inner grating; finding I succeeded tolerably, I cut the real 
grating totally away, and substituted an artificial^ one of my 
own fabricating, by which I obtained ^ free communication with 
the outside, additional fresh air, together with all necessary 
implements, tinder and candles. That the light might not be 
seen, I hung the coverlet of my bed before my window, so that 
I could work fearless and undetected. 

Every thing prepared, I went to work. The floor of my 
dungeon was not of stone, but oak planks three inches thick; 
three beds of which were laid cross-wise and fastened to each 
other by nails half an inch in diameter, and a foot long. 
Having worked round the head of a nail, I made use of the hole 
at the end of the bar which separated ray hands to draw it out, 
and this nail I sharpened upon my tombstone into an excellent 
chisel. 

I now cut through the board more than an inch in width, that 
I might work downward, and having drawn away a piece of 
board which was inserted two inches under the wall, I cut this so 



Life of Baron Trenck. 73 



as exactly to fitj the small crevice it occasioned, I stopped with 
bread, and strewed over with dust, so as to prevent all suspicious 
appearances. My labor under this was continued with less 
precaution, and I had soon worked through my nine-inch plank. 
Under them I came to a fine white sand, on which the Star Fort 
was built. My chips I distributed beneath the boards. If I had 
not help from without, I could proceed no farther, for to dig was 
useless, unless I could rid myself of the rubbish. Gefhardt 
supplied me with some ells of cloths, of which I made long 
narrow bags, stuffed them with earth, and passed them between 
the iron bars to Gefhardt, who, as often as he was on guard, 
scattered or conveyed away their contents. 

Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor, I obtained 
more instruments, together with a pair of pistols, powder, ball, 
and a bayonet. 

I now discovered that the foundation of my prison, instead of 
two, was sunk four feet deep. Time, labor ami patience, were 
all necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered; but few 
things are impossible, where resolution is not wanting. 

The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep, correspond- 
ing with the foundation, and wide enough to kneel and stoop in; 
the laying down on the floor to throw out the earth, the narrow 
space in which all must be performed, these made the labor in- 
credible; and after this daily labor, all things were to be replaced, 
and my chains again resumed, which alone required some hours 
to effect. My great aid was in the wax candles and light 
I had procured; but as Gefhardt stood sentinel only once a fort- 
night, my work was much delayed; the sentinels were forbidden 
to speak to me under pain of death; and I was too fearful of 
being betrayed, to dare to seek new assistance. 

Being without a stove, I suffered much this winter from cold, 
yet my heart was cheerful, as 1 saw the possibility of freedom; 
and all were astonished to find me in such good spirits. 

Gefhardt also brought me supplies of provisions, chiefly 
consisting of sausages and salt meats, ready dressed, which in- 
creased my strength, and when I was not digging I wrote satires 
and verses; thus time was employed, and I contented even in a 
prison. 



74 Life of Baron Trenck. 



While I was imprisoned in the citadel, a sentinel came to the 
post under my window, cursed and blasphemed, exclaiming 
aloud: "Damn the Prussian service, if Trenck only knew my 
mind, he would not long continue in this infernal hole!" I 
entered into discourse with him, and he told me if I could give 
him money to purchase a boat, in which he might cross the Elbe. 
he would soon make my doors fly open, and set me free. Money 
at that time I had none, but I gave him a diamond shirt buckle, 
worth 500 florins, which I had concealed. I never heard more 
of this man, he spake to me no more. He often stood sentinel 
over me, which I knew by his Westphalian dialect, and I as 
often addressed myself to him ineflfectually. He would make me 
no answer. 

This Shutz must have sold my buckle, and let his riches be 
seen, for when the duke left me, the lieutenant on guard said to 
him, "You must certainly be the rascal who carried Trenck's let- 
ter, you have for some time past spent much money, and we 
have seen you with louis d'ors. How came you by them?" 
Shutz was terrified, his conscience accused him; he imagined I 
had betrayed him, he having deceived me; he, therefore, in the 
first agonies of despair, came to the palisados, and hung him- 
self before my dungeon. 

The enormous iron round my neck pained me, and prevented 
motion, and I durst not attempt to disengage myself from the 
pendant chains, till I had, for some months, carefully observed 
the mode of examination, and what parts they supposed were 
secure. The cruelty of depriving me of my bed was still greater, 
I was obliged to sit upon the bare ground, and lean with my head 
against the damp walls. The chains that descended from the 
neck collar were obliged to be supported, first with one hand, 
and then with the other; for if thrown behind, they would have 
strangled me, and if hanging forward occasioned most ex- 
cessive head aches. The bar between my hands, held one down, 
while leaning on my elbow. T supported with the other, my 
chains, and this so benumbed the muscles, and prevented circula- 
tion, that I could perceive my arms sensibly waste away. The 
little sleep I could have in such a situation, may be easily sup- 



lAfe of Baron Trenck. 75 



posed, and at length, body and raind sunk under this accumula- 
tion of miserable suffering, and I fell ill of a burninp- fever. 

The tyrant Borck was inexorable, he wi.shed to expedite my 
death, and rid himself of his troubles and terrors. Here did I 
experience what was the lamentable condition of a sick prisoner, 
without bed, refreshment, or aid from human being. Reason, 
fortitude, heroism, all the noble qualities of the mind, decay when 
the corporeal faculties are diseased, and the remembrance of my 
sufferings, at this dreadful moment, still agitates, still inflames 
my blood, so as almost to prevent an attempt to describe what 
they were. 

Yet hope had not totally forsaken me. Deliverance seemed 
possible, especially should peace ensue; and I sustained, perhaps, 
what mortal man never bore, except myself, being, as I was, 
provided with pistols, or any such immediate mode of dispatch. 
I continued ill about two months, and was so reduced at last 
that I had scarcely strength to lift the water jug to my mouth. 
What must the sufferings of that man be, who sits two months 
on the bare ground, in a dungeon, so damp, so dark, so horrible, 
without bed or straw, his limbs loaded as mine were; with no 
refreshment but dry ammunition bread; without so much as a 
drop of broth — without a consoling friend, and who under all 
these afflictions must trust for his recovery to the efforts of nature 
alone! 

Sickness, itself, is sufficient to humble the mightiest man; what 
then is sickness, with such addition of torment? The burning 
fever, the violent head aches, my neck, swelled and inflamed with 
the irons, enraged me almost to madness. The fever and the 
fetters, together, flayed my body so that it appeared like one 
continued wound. Enough! Enough! The malefactor extended 
living on the wheel, to whom the executioner refuses the last 
stroke, the blow of death, must yet in some short period expire; 
he suffers nothing I did not then suffer; and these my excrutiat- 
ing pangs continued two dreadful months. Yet, can it be 
supposed? there came a day, a day of horror, when these pangs 
wereb:vond imagination increased! I sat, scorched with this 
intole'^ )le fever, in which nature and death were contending, 



76 Life of Baron Trenck. 



and when attempting to quench my burning entrails with rold 
water, the jug dropped from my feeble hands and broke? I had 
four and twenty hours to remain without water. 

* «: * * * 

Willingly would I have seized my pistols, but strength had 
forsaken me; I could not open the place I was obliged to render 
so secure. 

My visitors next day supposed me gone at last; I lay motion- 
less, with my tongue out of my mouth. They poured water 
down my throat and found life. Oh God! Oh God! how pure, 
how delicious, how exquisite was this water! My insatiable 
thirst soon emptied the jug, they filled it anew, bade me farewell, 
hoped death would soon relieve my mortal suiferings, and de- 
parted. The lamentable state in which I lay, at length became 
so much the subject of general conversation, that all the ladies 
■of the town united with the officers, and prevailed on the tyrant 
Borck to restore me my bed. Oh Nature, what are thy opera- 
tions! From the day I drank water in such excess, I gathered 
strength, and, to the astonishment of every one, soon recovered. 
I had moved the heart of the officer who inspected my prison, 
and after six months, six cruel months of added misery, the day 
of hope began to dawn. 

One of the majors of the day entrusted his key to Lieut. Son- 
ta^g, who came alone, spoke in confidence, and related his own 
situation; complained of his debts, his poverty, his necessities; 
and I made him a present of twenty-five louis d'ors, for which he 
was so grateful that our friendship became unshaken. 

The three lieutenants all commiserated me, and would sit hours 
with me when a certain major had the inspection; and he him- 
self, after a time, would pass half the day with me. He too was 
poor, and I gave him a draft for three thousand florins; hence 
new objects took birth. 

Lieutenant Sontag got false handcuffs made forme, that were 
so wide I could easily draw my hands out; the lieutenants only 
examined my irons; the new handcuflfs were made perfectly 
similar to the old, and Bruckhausen had too much stupidity to 
remark any difference. 



Life of Baron Trenck. Ill 



Of the remainder of my chains I could disencumber myself at 
pleasure. When I exercised myself, I held them in my hands, 
that the sentinels might be deceived by their clanking. The 
neck iron was the only one I dare not remove; it was likewise 
too strongly riveted. I filed through the upper link of the pend- 
ant chain, however, by which means I could take it off, and this 
I concealed with bread, in the manner I before mentioned. 

So could I disencumber myself of most of my fetters, and sleep 
at ease. I again obtained sausages and cold meat, and thus my 
situation, bad as it was, still became less miserable. Liberty, 
still, however, was most desirable; but alas! none of the three 
lieutenants had the courage of a Schell; Saxony, too, was in the 
hands of the Prussians, and flight therefore most dangerous. 
Persuasion was in vain, with men determined to risk nothing; 
but if they went, to go in safety. Will, indeed, was not wanting 
with Glotin and Sontag; but the first was a poltroon, and the 
latter a man of scruples, who likewise thought this step might 
be the ruin of his brother in Berlin. 

The sentinels were doubled, therefore my escape through my 
hole, which had been two years dug, could not, unperceived by 
them, be effected; much less could T, in the face of the guard, 
clamber over the twelve feet high pallisados. The following 
labor, therefore, though Herculean, was undertaken. 

Lieutenant Sontag, measuring the hole I had dug, and the 
entrance of the gallery in the principal rampart, found it to be 
thirty-seven feet. Into this it was possible I might, by mining, 
penetrate. The difficulty of the enterprise was lessened by the 
nature of the ground, a fine white sand. Could I reach the 
gallery, my freedom was certain. I had been informed how 
many steps to the right or left must be taken to find the door that 
led to the second rampart; and on the day when I should be 
ready for flight, the officer was secretly to leave this door open. 
I bad light and mining tools, and I was further to rely on money 
and my own discretion. 

I began and continued this labor about six months. I have 
already noticed the difficulty of scraping; out the earlh with my 



Life of Baron Trenck. 



hands. The noise of instruments would have been heard by the 
sentinels; I had scarcely mined beyond my dungeon wall before 
I discovered the foundation of the rampart was not more than a 
foot deep; a capital error, certainly, in so important a fortress. 
My labor became the lighter, as I could remove the foundation 
stones of my dungeon, and was not obliged to mine so deep. 

My work proceeded so rapidly, that, while I had room to throw 
back my sand, I was able, in one night, to gain three feet; but 
ere I had proceeded ten feet, I discovered all my difficulties. 
Before I could continue my work, I was obliged to make room 
for myself, by emptying the sand out of my hole upon the floor 
of my prison, and this itself was an employment of some hours. 
The sand was obliged to be thrown out by hand, and after it thus 
lay heaped in my prison must again be returned into the hole; 
and I have calculated, that, after I had proceeded twenty feet, I 
was obliged to creep under ground, in my hole, from 1500 to 
2000 fathoms, within twenty-four hours, in the removal and 
replacing of sand. This labor ended, care was to be taken, that 
in none of the crevices of the floor there might be any appear- 
ance of this fine white sand. The flooring was next to be exactly 
replaced, and my chains to be resumed. So severe was the 
fatigue of one day, in this mode, that I was always obliged to 
rest the three following. 

To reduce my labor as much as possible, I was constrained to 
make the passage so small, that my body only had space to pass, 
and I had not room to draw my arm back to my head. The 
work, too, must all be done naked, otherwise the dirtiness of my 
shirt must have been remarked, as the sand was wet, water being 
found at the depth of four feet, where the stratum of gravel be- 
gan. At length the expedient of sand bags occurred to me, by 
which it might be removed out more expeditiously. I obtained 
linen from the officers, but not in sufficient quantities; suspicions 
would have been excited at observing so much linen brought 
into the prison. At last I took my sheets and ticking that 
enclosed the straw, and cut them up for sand bags, taking care 
to lie down on my bed as if ill, when Bruckhausen paid his visit 



Life of Baron Trenck. 79 



The labor, towards the conclusion, became so intolerable as 
to excite despondency. 1 frequently sat contemplating the heaps 
of sand, during a momentary respite from work, and thinking it 
impossible I could have strength or time again to replace all 
things as they were, resolving patiently to wait the consequence, 
and leave every thing in its present disorder. No, I can assure 
the reader^ that to effect concealement, I have scarcely had time, 
in twenty-four hours, to sit down and eat a morsel of bread. 
Recollecting, however, the prodigious efforts, and all the pro- 
gress I had made, hone would again revive, and exhausted 
strength return: again would I begin my labors, that I might 
preserve my secret and my expectations; yet it has frequently 
happened that my visitors have entered a few minutes after I 
had reinstated every thing in its place. 

When my work was within six or seven feet of being accom- 
plislied, a new misfortune happened, that at once frustrated all 
further attempts. I worked, as I have said, under the foundation 
of the rampart, near where the sentinels stood. I could 
disencumber myself of my fetters, except my neck collar, and its 
pendant chain. This, as I worked, though it had been fastened, 
got loose, and the clanking was heard by one of the sentinels, 
about fifteen feet from ray dungeon. The officers were called, 
they laid their ears to the ground, and heard me as I went 
backward and forward to bring my earth-bags. This was 
reported the next day, and the major, who was my best friend, 
with the town major, and a smith and a mason, entered my 
prison. I was terrified. The lieutenant, by a sign, gave me to 
understand I was discovered. An examination was begun, but 
the officers would not see, and the smith and mason found every 
thing, as they thought, safe. Had they examined my bed, they 
would have seen the ticking and sheets were gone. 

The town major was a dull man, was persuaded the thing was 
impossible, and said to the sentinel, " Blockhead, you have heard 
some mole under ground, and not Trenck. How indeed could 
it be, that he should work under ground at such a distance from 
his dungeon!" Here the scrutiny ended. 



80 Life of Baron Trenck. 



There was now no time for delay. Had they altered their hour of 
coming, they must have found me at work; but this during ten 
years never happened, for the governor and town major were 
stupid men, and the others, wishing me all success, were willfully 
blind. In a few days I could have broken out, but when pre- 
pared, wished to wait for the visitation day of the man who had 
treated me so tyrannically, Bruckhausen, that his own negligence 
might be evident: but this man, tiiough he wanted understand- 
ino-, did not want good fortune. He was ill for some time, and 
his duty devolved on K . 

He recovered, and the visitation being over, the doors were 
no sooner barred, than I began my supposed last labor. I had 
only three feet further to proceed, and it was no longer necessary 
I should bring out the sand, I having room enough to throw it 
behind me. What my anxiety was, what my exertions were, 
may well be imagined. My evil genius, however, had decreed 
that the same sentinel who had heard me before, should be that 
day on guard. He was piqued by vanity to prove he was not 
the blockhead he had been called; he again laid his ear to the 
o-round, and heard me burrowing. He called his comrades first, 
next the major; he came and heard me likewise: accordingly 
they went without the pallisados, and heard me working near 
the door, at which place I was to break into the gallery. This 
door they immediately opened, entered the gallery with lanterns, 
and waited to catch the hunted fox when unearthed. 

Through the first small breach I made, I perceived a light, and 
saw the heads of those who were expecting me. This was indeed a 
thunder stroke: I crept back, made my way through the sand I 
had cast behind me, and waited my fate with shuddering! I had 
still the presence of mind to conceal my pistols, candles, paper, 
and some money, under the floor, which I could remove. The 
money was disposed of in various holes, well concealed, also 
between the panels of the doors; under different cracks in the 
floor I hid my small files and knives. 

Scarcely were these disposed of before the doors resounded: 
the floor was covered with sand bags; my handcuffs, however, 



Life of Baron Trench. 81 



and the separating bar, I had hastily resumed, that they might 
suppose I had worked with them on, which they were silly enough 
to credit, highly to my future advantage. 

No man was so busy on this occasion as the brutal and stupid 
Bruckhausen, who put many interrogatories, to M'hich I made 
no reply, except assuring him that I should have completed my 
work some days sooner, had it not been his good fortune to fall 
sick, and that this only had been the cause of my failure. 

The man was absolutely terrified with apprehension; he 
began to fear me, grew more polite, and even supposed nothing 
was impossible to me. 

It was too late to remove the sand, therefore the lieutenant and 
guard continued with me, so that, this night at least, 1 did not 
want company. When the morning came, the hole was first 
filled and walled up: the plank was renewed. The tyrant Borck 
was ill, and could not come, otherwise my treatment would have 
been still more lamentable. The smiths had ended before the 
evening, and the irons were heavier than ever. The foot chains, 
instead of being fastened as before, were screwed and rivited; 
all things else remained as formerly. They were employed in 
the flooring till the next day, so that I could not sleep, and at 
last I sunk down with weariness. 

The greatest of my misfortunes was, they again deprived me 
of my bed, because I had cut it up for sand bags. Before the 
doors were barred, Bruckhausen and another major examined my 
body very narrowly. They often asked me where I concealed 
all my implements? My answer was, " Gentlemen, Beelzebub is 
my best and most intimate friend; he brings me every thing I 
want, supplies me with light, we play whole nights at picquet 
and, guard me as you please, he will finally deliver me out of 
your power." 

Some were astonished, others laughed. At length as they 
were barring the last door, I called, " Come back, gentlemenj 
you have forgotten something of great importance." In the 
interim I had taken up one of my hidden files. When they 
returned, "Look ye, gentlemen," '•'"^ T. "here is a nmof -^ *' 



82 Life of Baron Trenck. 



friendship Beelzebub has for me: he has brought me this in a 
twinkling." Again they examined, and again they shut the 
doors. While they were so doing. I took out a knife and ten 
louis d'ors, called, and they returned, grumbling curses. I then 
showed them the knife and the louis d'ors. Their consternation 
was excessive; and diverted my misfortunes, by jesting at such 
a blundering, short-sighted keeper. It was soon rumored through 
Magdebourg, especially among the simple and vulgar, that I 
was a magician, to whom the devil brought all I asked. 

One major Holtzkammer, a very selfish man, profited by this 
report. A foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars, if he 
might only be permitted to see me through the door, being very 
desirous to have a peep at a wizard. Holtzkammer told me, 
and we jointly determined to sport with his credulity. The 
major gave me a mask, with a monstrous nose, which I put on 
when the doors were opened, and threw myself into a heroic 
attitude. The affrighted burgher drew back, but Holtzkammer 
stopped him, and said, have patience but for one quarter of an 
hour, and you shall see he will assume quite a different coun- 
tenance. The burgher waited; my mask was thrown by, and my 
face appeared whitened with chalk, and made ghastly. The 
burgher again shrunk back! Holtzkammer kept him in con- 
versation, and I assumed a third farcical form. I tied my hair 
under my nose, and a pewter dish to my breast, and when the 
door a third time opened, I thundered, " Begone, rascals, or I'll 
set your necks awry !" They both ran, and the silly burgher, 
eased of his fifty dollars, scampered first. 

The major in vain laid his injunctions on the burgher never to 
reveal what he had beheld, it being a breach of duty in him, to 
admit any person to the sight of me. In a few days, the 
necromancer Trenck was the theme of every ale-house in Mag- 
debourg, and the person was named, who had seen me change 
my form thrice in the space of one hour. Many false and 
ridiculous circumstances were added, and at last the story reached 
the governor's ears. The citizen was cited, and offered to take 
his osth to the truth of what himself and the major had seen. 



Life of Baron Trench. 83 



Holtzkamraer accordingly suffered a severe reprimand, and was 
some days put under arrest. 

I soon felt the eflfects of the loss of my bed, and was a second 
time attacked by a violent fever, which would this time have 
certainly consumed me, had not the officers, unknown to the 
the governor, treated me with all possible compassion. Bruck- 
hausen alone continued my enemy, and the slave of his orders; 
on his day of examination, rules and commands in all their rigor 
were observed, nor durst I free myself from my irons, till I had 
for some weeks remarked those parts on which he invariably fixed 
his attention. I then cut through the link, and closed up the 
vacancy with bread. My hands I could always draw out, 
especially after illness had consumed the flesh off my bones. Halt 
a year had elapsed before I had recovered sufficient strength to 
undertake, anew, labors like the past. 

Necessity at length taught me the means of driving Bruck- 
hausen from my dungeon, and of inducing him to commit his 
office to another. I learned his olfactory nerves were somewhat 
delicate; and, whenever I heard the doors unbar, I took care to 
stir up my night table. This made him give back, and at length 
he vv^ould come no farther than the door. Such are the hard 
expedients of a poor unhappy prisoner. 

One day he came bloated with pride, just after a courier had 
brought the news of victory, and spoke of the Austrians and the 
august person of the empress queen with so much virulence, 
that, at last, enraged almost to madness, I instantly snatched the 
sword of an officer from its sheath, and certainly should have 
ended him, had he not then made a hasty retreat. From that 
day forward, he durst no more come vs^ithout guards to examine 
the dungeon. Two men always preceded him, with their bay- 
onets fixed and their pieces presented, behind whom he stood at 
the door. This was another fortunate incident, as I dreaded 
only his examination. 

An order came, that I should be prevented sleeping, and that 
the sentinels should call and wake me every quarter of an hour^ 
which dreadful order was immediately executed. With whom 



84 Life of Baron Trenck. 



these orders originated, unexampled in the history even of tyran- 
ny, I shall not venture to say. The major, who was my friend, 
advised me to persist in not answering. I followed his advice, 
and produccl this good effect, that we mutually forced each 
other to a capitulation; they restored me my bed, and I was 
obliged to licply. 

A frier ' whom I will never name, by the aid of one of the 
lieutenants, secretly visited me, and supplied me with 500 ducats. 
The same friend, in the year 1763, paid 4000 florins to the 
imperial envoy. Baron Reidt, at Berlin, for the furthering of my 
freedom, as I shall presently more fully show. Thus I had once 
more money. I might fill a volume with incidents attending 
two other efforts to escape; but I wnll not weary the reader's 
patience with too much repetition. I shall merely give an ab- 
stract of both. 

When I had once more gained the officers, I made a new 
attempt at mining my way out. Not wanting for implements, 
my chains and the flooring were soon cut through, and all was 
so carefully replaced I was under no fear of examination. I 
here found my concealed money, pistols, and other necessaries, 
but till I had rid myself of some hundred weight of sand, it was 
impossible to proceed. For this purpose I made two different 
openings in the floor; out of the real hole I threw a great 
quantity of sand into my prison; after which I closed it with all 
possible care. I then worked at the second with so much noise 
that I was certain they must hear me without. About midnight 
the doors began to thunder, and in they came, detecting me as I 
intended they should. None of them could conceive why I 
should wish to break out under the door, where there was a 
triple guard to pass. The sentinels remained, and in the morn- 
ing prisoners were sent to wheel the sand away. The hole was 
walled up and boarded, and my fetters were renewed. They 
laughed at the ridiculousness of my undertaking, but punished 
me by depriving me of my light and bed, both which, however, 
in a fortnight, were restored. Of the other hole, out of which 
most of the earth had been thrown, no one was aware. The 



Life of Baron Trenck. 86 



major and lieutenant were too much my friends to remark they 
had removed thrice the quantity of sand the false opening could 
contain. They supposed, this strange attempt having failed, it 
would be my last, and Bruckhausen grew neglir:ent. 

Ink was not allowed me, I therefore pricked my finger, suffered 
the blood to trickle into the pot, and when coagulated warmed 
it again in my hands, throwing away the fibrov ;»arts, that 
would not liquefy; by this means I procured a succecilaneum for 
ink, both to write and draw. 

I waited my coming fate with a mind more at ease than that 
of many a prince in his palace. My dawn of hope daily grew 
more bright. The newspapers they brought me, Ibretold 
approaching peace, on which all my dependence was placed, 
and I passed eighteen months calmly, and without further attempt. 
I endeavored to persuade another officer to aid my escape, 
but in vain; no second Schell was to be found. The will con- 
sented, but the heart recoiled. 

I therefore opened my old hole, and my friends assisted me all 
in their power, further to disembarrass myself of sand. My 
money melted away, but they provided me with tools, gunpowder, 
and a good sword. I had remained so long quiet, that my floor- 
ing was no more examined. 

My passage was to be ready in case of emergency; I therefore 
removed the upper planking, broke up the two under beds, cut 
the boards into chips, and burnt them in my stove. By this I 
obtained so much additional room, as to proceed half way with 
my mine. Linen was again brought, sand bags were made, 
and thus 1 successfully proceeded to all but the last operation. 
Every thing was afterwards so well closed, and concealed, that 
I had nothing to fear from the narrowest inspection, sufficient of 
the under flooring being left to support the^upper, and it appear- 
ing double nailed as before, to avoid suspicion, especially as the 
new come garrison could not know what was the original length 
of the planks. This severe labor reduced me again to a very 
feeble state of body, and by the return of the regulars I in a 
moment was deprived of all my friends. 



86 Life of Baron Trenck. 



I must in this place relate a dreadful accident, which I can not 
even now remember without shuddering, and the terror of which 
has often haunted my very dreams. While mining under the 
foundation of the ramparts, just as I was going to carry out the 
sand bag, I struck my foot against a stone in the wall above, 
which fell down and closed up the passage. 

What was my horror to find myself thus buried alive! After 
a short time for reflection, I began to work the sand away from 
the side, that 1 might obtain room to turn round. By good for- 
tune, there were some feet of empty space, into which I threw 
the sand as I worked it away; but the small quantity of air soon 
made it so foul, that I a thousand times wished myself dead, and 
made several attempts to strangle myself. Further labor began 
to seem impossible. Thirst almost deprived me of my senses, 
but as often as I put my mouth to the sand, I inhaled fresh air. 
My sufferings were incredible, and I imagined I passed full eight 
hours in this distraction of horror. Of all dreadful deaths, surely 
such a death as this is the most dreadful. My spirits fainted; 
again I somewhat recovered; again I began to labor, but the earth 
was as high as my chin, and I had no more space into which I 
might throw my sand that I might turn round. I made a more 
desperate effort, drew my body into a ball and turned round. I 
now faced the stone, which was as wide as the whole passage, 
but there being an opening at the top, I respired fresher air. My 
next labor was to root away the sand under the stone, and let it 
sink so that I might creep over, and by this means, at length, I 
once more happily arrived in my dungeon. 

The morning was advanced; I sat myself down so exhausted 
that I supposed it was impossible I had time or strength to cover 
up and conceal my hole. After half an hour's rest, however, my 
fortitude returned; again I went to work, and scarcely had ended 
before the resounding locks and bolts told of the approach of my 
visitors. 

They found me pale as death; I complained of the head ache, 
and continued some days so much affected by the fatigue I sus- 
tained, that I began to imagine ray lungs were impaired. After 



Life of Baron Trenck. 87 



a time, liealth and strength returned; but, perhaps, of all my 
nights of horror, this was the most horrible. I long repeatedly 
dreamed I was buried alive in the center of the earth; and now, 
though three and twenty years have elapsed, my sleep is still 
haunted by this vision. 

After this accident, whenever I worked in my cavity, I hung a 
knife round my neck, that in case I should be again so enclosed, 
I might shorten my miseries. Over the stone that had fallen, 
were several others that hung tottering, under which I had several 
hundred times to creep. Nothing could deter me from endeavor- 
ing to obtain my liberty. 

When my passage was ready, so that I could break out when 
I pleased, I wrote various letters to my friends at Vienna, and 
also an impassioned memorial to mysovereign. When the militia 
left Magdebourg, and the regulars returned, I took an affecting 
leave of my friends, who had behaved to me with so much 
humanity, and so benevolently supplied my wants. 

My time hung heavy; every thing was carefully examined 
on the change of the garrison. A still stricter scrutiny might 
occur, and all my projects be discovered. This had nearly been 
effected by accident, as I shall here relate. I had two years be- 
fore so tamed a mouse, that it would play round me and eat from 
my mouth. In this small animal, I discovered proofs of intelli- 
gence too great easily to gain belief; were I to write them, 
priests would rail, monks grumble, and such philosophers as sup- 
pose man alone endowed with the power of thought, allowing 
nothing but what they call instinct to animals, would proclaim 
me a fabulous writer, and my opinions heterodox to what they 
suppose sound philosophy. Should 1 live, perhaps I may here- 
after publish an essay on this subject, in which this mouse and a 
spider will appear as remarkable characters. 

This intelligent mouse had nearly been my ruin. I had diverted 
myself with it through the night; it had been nibbling at ray 
door; and capering upon a trencher. The sentinel happened to 
hear our amusement, called the officers; they heard also, and 
added, all was not right in my dungeon. At day break ray 



88 Life of Baron Trench. 



doors resounded; the town -major, a snaith and mason, entered; 
strict search was begun; flooring, walls, chains, and my own 
person were scrutinized, but in vain. They asked me what was 
the noise they heard? I mentioned the mouse, whistled, and it 
came and jumped upon my shoulder. Orders were given I should 
be deprived of its society; I earnestly entreated they would spare 
its life. The officer on guard gave me his word of honor he would 
present it to a lady, who would treat it with the utmost tenderness. 

He took it awav, turned it loose in the guard room; but it was 
tame to me alone, and sought a hiding place. It had fled to my 
prison door; and at the hour of visitation, ran into my dungeon, 
immediately testifying its joy by its antic leaping between my 
legs. It is worthy of remark that it had been taken away blind- 
folded, that is to say, wrapped up in a handkerchief. The guard 
room was a hundred paces from my dungeon. How then did it 
find its master? Did it know, or did it wait for the hour of visit- 
ation? Had it remarked the doors were daily opened? 

All were desirous of obtaining this mouse; but the major 
carried it oflf for the lady; she put it into a cage, where it pined, 
refused all sustenance, and in a few days was found dead. 

The loss of this little companion made me for some time quite 
melancholy; yet, on the last examination, I perceived it had 
eaten away the bread, by which I had concealed the crevices I 
had made in cutting the floor, so that the examiners must all be 
blind not to discover them. I was convinced my faithful little 
friend had fallen a necessary victim to its master's safety. My 
keepers were persuaded I had neither the will nor the power to 
make further attempts at freedom. This accident, however, de- 
termined me not to wait even the three months. 

I have already related that horses were kept ready on the 1st 
and 15th, and I only suffered the 1st of August to pass, because 
I would not injure the worthy Major Psuhl, who had treated me 
with more compassion than his comrades, and whose day of visit- 
ation it was. On the 15th I determined to fly. This resolution 
formed, I waited in anxious expectation, when a new and most 
remarkable succession of events happened. 



Life of Baron Trenck. 



An alarm of fire had obliged the major of the day to 
repair in haste to the town; he therefore committed the keys 
to the lieutenant. The latter coming to visit me, with a look of 
compassion, asked, "Dear Trenck, have you never, during the 
seven years that you have been under the guard of the militia 
found a man like Schell?" "Alas! sir," answered I, "such 
friends are, indeed, rare; the will of many has been good: each 
knew I could make his fortune, but none had courage enough for 
so desperate an attempt. Money I have distributed freely, but 
have received little help." 

" Money! How do you obtain money in this dungeon?" " From 
a secret correspondent in Vienna, by whom I am still supplied. 
If I can serve you, command me; I will do it willingly, without 
asking any return." So saying, I immediately took fifty ducats 
from between the panels, and gave them to the lieutenant. At 
first he refused, but at length accepted them with fear. He left 
me, promised to return, pretended to shut the door, and kept his 
word. He now avowed debt obliged him to desert; that this had 
long been his determination, and that, could he assist me, only to 
show him how this might be effected. 

We continued two hours in conference; a plan was soon formed 
and approved, almost a certainty of success demonstrated, espe- 
cially when I told him I had two horses in waiting. We vowed 
eternal friendship, I gave him fifty additional ducats, and he had 
never before been so rich; his whole debts, which would oblige 
him to desert, not amounting to more than two hundred rix 
dollars, which, however, he could never have discharged out of 
his pay. 

He was to prepare four keys, that were to resemble those of 
my dungeon; the latter were to be exchanged on the day of 
flight, being kept in the guard room, while the major was with 
General Walrabe. He was to give the grenadiers on guard 
leave of absence for some hours, or send them into town on 
various pretences. The sentinels at the gate he was to call from 
their duty, and those placed over me were to be sent into my 
dungeon to take away my bed; while encumbered with this, I 



9D Life of Baron Trenck, 



was to spring out, and lock them in, after which we were to 
mount our horses, kept reacl}^ and ride full speed to Gummern. 
Every thing was to be prepared within a week, when he was 
again to mount guard. We had scarcely fully formed our project 
before the sentinels called, the major was coming; he accord- 
ingly hastily barred up the doors, and the major passed to Gen. 
Walrabe. 

No man now was happier than myself; in a dungeon though I 
was, my hopes of escape were triple; the mediation at Berlin, the 
mine I had made, and my new friend, the lieutenant. Intoxicated 
with hope and joy, then, when most my mind ought to have been 
cool and clear, I seemed to have lost my understanding. I 
came to a resolution Avhich will appear to every reasonable man, 
extravagant, absurd, pitiable. I was vain enough, stupid enough, 
mad enough, to form the design of casting myself on the 
generosity and magnanimity of the great Frederick! Should 
this fail, I still thought my lieutenant a certain savior. 

Having heated my imagination with this lamentable scheme, 
I expected the hour of visitation with anxiety. The major 
entered; 1 spoke to him thus: 

" I know, sir, the great Prince Ferdinand is again in Magde- 
bourg." (My new friend had told me this.) " Be pleased to 
inform him that he may first examine my prison, double the 
sentinels, and after give me his commands, stating at what hour 
it will please him I should make ray appearance, in perfect free- 
dom, on the glacis of Klotserbergen. If I prove myself capable 
of this, I then hope for the protection of Prince Ferdinand, and 
that he will relate my proceeding to the king, who may thereby 
be convinced of my innocence, and the perfect clearness of my 
conscience." 

The major was astonished — supposed my brain turned. The 
proposal he held to be ridiculous, and the performance impos- 
sible. I, however, persisted; he rode to town, and returned with 
the sub-governor, Reichman; the town major. Reding; and the 
major of inspection. The answer that they delivered was: That 
the prince promised me his protection, the king's favor, and a 



Life of Baron Trenck. 91 

certain release from my chains, should I prove the truth of my 
assertion. I requested they would appoint a time; they ridiculed 
the thing as impossible, and at last said that it would be sufficient, 
could I prove the practicability of such a scheme; but should I 
refuse, they would immediately break up the whole flooring, and 
place sentinels in my dungeon night and day; adding, the gov- 
ernor would not admit of any actual breaking out. 

After the most solemn promises of good faith, I immediately 
disencumbered myself of my chains, raised up the flooring, gave 
them my arms and implements, and also two keys that my friend 
had procured me to the doors of the subterranean gallery. This 
gallery I desired them to enter, and sound with their sword hilts 
the place through which I was to break, which might be done 
in a few minutes. I further described the road I was to take 
through the gallery, informed them that two of the doors had not 
been shut for six months, and to the others they had already the 
keys; adding, I had horses at the glacis that would be immedi- 
ately ready; the stables for which were unknown to them. 

They went, examined, returned, put questions, which I 
answered with as much precision as the engineer could have 
done who built the Star Fort. They left me with seeming 
friendship, continued away about an hour, came back, told me 
the prince was astonished at what he had heard, that he wished 
me all happiness, and then took me, unfettered, to the guard 
house. The major came in the evening, treated us with a sump- 
tuous supper, assured me that every thing would happen to ray 
wishes, and that Prince Ferdinand had already written to Berlin. 

The guard was reinforced next day; two grenadiers entered 
the officers' room as sentinels. The whole guard loaded with 
ball before my eyes, the draw bridges were raised in open day, 
and precautions were taken, as if it were supposed I intended to 
make attempts as desperate as those I had made at Glatz. 

I now saw numerous workmen employed on my dungeon, and 
carts bringing quarry stones. The officers on guard behaved 
with great kindness, kept a good table, at which I ate; but two 
sentinels and an under officer never quitted the guard room 



Life of Baron Trenck. 



Conversation was very cautious, and this continued five or six 
days; at length it was my new friend, the lieutenant's turn to 
mount guard; he appeard to me as friendly as formerly, but 
conference was difficult; he, however, found an opportunity to 
express his astonishment at my ill-timed discovery, told me the 
prince knew nothing of the affair, and that the report propagated 
through the garrison was, I had been surprised in making a new 
attempt. 

I now saw my error, but alas! too late. I assured my friend 
this step had been occasioned by my reliance on his promise. He 
lamented my mistake, but affirmed himself still the same. My 
courage strengthened, and I avowed vengeance against the 
mean conduct of the sub-governor. 

My dungeon was completed in about a week. The town 
major and major of the day reconducted me to it. My foot only 
was chained to the wall, but with links twice as strong as 
formerly; the remainder of my irons were never after added. 
Instead of flooring, my dungeon was paved with huge flag stones. 
The prison was made impenetrable. That part of my money 
only was saved, which I had concealed in the panels of the 
door and the chimney of the stove; some louis d'ors hidden 
about my clothes, were taken from me. 

While the smith was riveting my chains, I addressed myself 
to the sub-governor: "Is this the consequence of the pledged 
honor of the prince? Has the magnanimity of my conduct 
deserved this treatment? But think not you deceive me, I am 
acquainted with the false report that has been spread: the truth 
will soon come to light, and the unworthy put to shame. Nay, 
I now foretell you, Trenck shall not be much longer in your 
power; for were you to build your dungeon of steel, it would 
still be insufficient to contain me." 

They smiled at my threats. Reichman, however, desired me 
to take courage, and said I might probably soon obtain my 
freedom after a proper manner. My firm reliance on my friend, 
the lieutenant, gave me, instead of appearing sunken and des- 
pondent, a degree of confidence that amazed them all. 



Life of Baron Trcnck. 



It is here necessary further lo explain this affair. When I 
had obtained ray liberty, I paid a visit to Prince Ferdinand at 
Brunswick. He informed me the majors had not made a true 
report, being afraid of a reprimand for their own carelessness. 
Their story was, they had caught me at work, and had it not 
been for their extreme diligence, I should certainly have made 
my escape. Prince Ferdinand heard the truth some time after, 
and informed the king, who, from that time, only waited a 
favorable opportunity to restore me to my liberty. 

Such is the way of the world! Such the manner in which 
the most generous, the most noble acts are often painted. I was 
in this case, the silly sacrifice of my own vanity. Those who 
guarded me were ashamed of their neglect, and to avoid repri- 
mand, which would not elFectually have injured any of them, 
was T again led to my slaughter-house. Such has been the issue 
through life of many undertakings; where others have taken ad- 
vantage of the too great openness of my heart, and procured 
reward to themselves by my labors. 

Once more was I immured, cursing in ray heart the cruelties 
of kings and governors; this time, however, they were innocent, 
because deceived. 

I waited in anxious hope for the day when my deliverer was 
to mount guard. What again was my ilespair, when, instead of 
him, I saw another lieutenant. I buoyed myself up with the 
expectation that accident was the occasion of this; but I re- 
mained three weeks in the same suspense, and saw him no more. 
Ask I durst not, but heard, at length, he had left the corps of 
grenadiers, and therefore was no longer to mount guard at the 
Star Fort. I bitterly now repented my folly, and untimely 
vanity; melancholy seized my mind; when I had removed every 
impediment, the confidence I placed in the honor of man 
plunged me near six months longer in affliction, doubled by 
despair. I had, myself, rendered my dungeon impenetrable. 
Death would have followed, but for the dependence I had placed 
in the court of Vienna. 

The oflicers soon remarked the loss of my accustomed fortitude. 



M Life of Baron Trenck. 



and my gloomy thoughtfulness. I was less industrious on my 
cups; the verses I wrote were desponding. The only comfort 
they could give was, patience, dear Trenck, your condition can not 
be worse; the king may not live forever. Small consolation 
this. Were I sick, they told me I then might hope my sufferings 
would soon have an end. If I recovered, they pitied me, and 
lamented their continuance. What man of my rank and expect- 
ations ever endured what I have endured, ever was treated as I 
have been treated? 

Peace had been concluded nine months. I was forgotten. 
At last, however, when I supposed all hope lost, the 24th of 
December, and the day of freedom came! At the hour of 
parade, Count Schlieben, lieutenant of the guards, arrived, and 
brought orders for my release! The sub-governor supposed me 
weaker in intellect than I really was, and would not too suddenly 
tell me these happy tidings. He knew not the presence of mind 
the fortitude, which the various dangers I had seen, had made 
habitual. Self praise offends; yet, never was I too much elated 
in prosperity, or depressed in adversity; never timid, or un- 
determined in the moment of danger; and for the truth of this, 
I appeal to all who have known me personally, or been ac- 
quainted with those who have seen me in such situations. 

My doors, for the last time, resounded! Several people 
entered; their countenances were more than usually cheerful 
and the sub-governor at their head, and at length said: "This 
time, dear Trenck, I am the joyful messenger of good news. 
Prince Ferdinand has prevailed on the king to let your irons be 
taken off. Accordingly to work went the smith; "I am free," 
then, said I, "and you are afraid to tell me too suddenly. Speak, 
fear not, I can moderate my transports." 

For some weeks after I first obtained my freedom, I was 
generally absent in mind, and deep in thought. This was a habit 
I acquired in prison, and the objects of sight appeared but as 
the visions of sleep. I often stopped in the streets, stared round 
me, doubted my own existence, and bit my finger, in order to 
convince myself I was really awake and alive. 



Life of Baron Trenck. 06 



How trifling, how insignificent does the poor pageantry of 
greatness appear to me at this time! A thousand people, 
variously bedecked in all their finery, wait the appearance of 
some extraordinary personage! the doors are thrown open! An 
elderly matron enters, graciously smiles, and every body most 
humbly smiles also! She asks a few questions concerning the 
wind and weather, of an old priest in a red cap and stockings, 
then addresses herself to an insignificant yEsop, on whom all 
eagerly press forward to fawn! The good lady retires, and the 
hubbub of the synagogue ensues! and this is called a levee! 
Not to this sublime honor may men of honest hearts, the friends 
of virtue or their country, find admittance; they have not the 
proper key, or having it, hold it in contempt. man! what art 
thou when called great and honorable? what are thy thoughts, what 
thy dreams! Dost thou call thyself a man of reason, a philo- 
sopher? What dost thou then at courts? By me they have 
long been avoided. Walking round the ramparts of V^ienna, 
having recovered from sickness, the vivifying spring, and the 
broad expanse of Heaven, inspired a consciousness of present 
freedom, and pleasure indescribable. I heard the morning song 
of the lark. My heart palpitated, my pulse quickened, the 
blood trickled through my veins with delight, for I was a man, 
and recollected I was not in chains. Happen, said I, what may, 
I fear not futurity, so long as my feet, my will, and my heart 
are free, and like yonder lark I can remove from land to land. 
My soul poured forth its thankfulness for this consciousness of 
freedom, and I determined to fly Vienna, and seek some corner 
of the world where virtue has nothing to fear from the tongues 
of slanderers, the commands of courts, or the arbitrary will of 
monarchs. 

If I went into any large companies, their prattle so distracted 
my mind, and the lights so overpowered my eyes, that I returned 
home with headache, lassitude and melancholy. 

An accident happened which furthered my project. Marshal 
Laudohn was going to Aix-la-Chapelle, to take the waters. I 
had always personally honored and loved this general, when he 



96 Life of Baron Trenck. 



was only a captain of pandours in my cousin's regiment. He 
went to take his leave of the countess Paar. I was present* 
The empress entered the chamber, and, the conversation turning 
on Laudohn's journey, she said to me, " The baths are also 
necessary to the reestablishment of your health, Trenck." I 
was ready, and followed him in two days, where we remained 
about three months. 

Here we were stared at as strange animals. All the world 
wished to see him, because of his fame in war; and me, because 
of my fame in suffering. The society of this worthy general 
poured balm into my wounded soul. He was as well acquainted 
with Vienna as myself; his fortitude and magnanimity had con- 
quered his enemies. What he was, he had made himself. 

The mode of life at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa pleased me, 
where men of all nations meet, and where princes are obliged to 
mingle with persons of all ranks, if they wish to seek conversa- 
tion, and would not renounce society. One day here procured 
me more pleasure, esteem and solid friendship, than a whole life 
in Vienna. This friendly counsel was seconded by my own 
wishes. I returned to Aix-la-Chapelle in December, 1765, and 
married the youngest daughter of the former burgomaster de 
Eroe. 

From the year 1775 to 1777, I chiefly spent my time in jour- 
neying through England and France. I was intimate with Dr. 
Franklin, the American minister; also with the counts St. Ger- 
main and Vergennes, who made me advantageous proposals to 
go to America; but I was prevented accepting them by my 
affection for my wife and children. 

Being in London, I was defrauded of 1800 guineas by a 
swindler. The relating of this story will do but little honor to 
the English nation. The fault was principally my brother-in- 
law's, a young man who parted with the wine before he had re- 
ceived the money. In England there is no law against such 
deceivers. They bid you trust nobody, you will then not be 
wronged. And when I had been wronged and asked my friends' 
assistance, I was only laughed at; as if they were happy an 



Life of Baron Trenc/c. ^ 



Englishman had the wit to cheat a German. I can not give a 
circumstantial history of this affair, but it is necessary to narrate 
it in the abstract^ our prejudices being so strong in favor of the 
great worth and justness of the British nation. 

Finding myself defrauded of my wine, I hastened to Sir John 
Fielding. He was acquainted with me, told me he knew I had 
been swindled, and that his friendship would make him active 
in my behalf; that he also knew the houses where my wine was 
deposited, and that a party of the runners should go with me, 
sufficiently strong for its recovery. I was little aware that he 
had, at that time, two hundred bottles of my best Tokay in his 
cellar; that he was in partnership with robbers, only the stupid 
among whom he hung, and preserved the most adroit for the 
promotion of trade. 

He sent a constable and six of his runners with me, command- 
ing them to act under my orders. By good fortune I had a 
violent headache, and could not attend them myself, but sent my 
brother-in-law, who spoke better English than I. Him they 
brought to the house of a Jew, who told him, "Your wine, sir, 
is here concealed." Though it was broad day, the door was 
locked, that he might be induced to act illegally. The constable 
desired him to break the door open, which he accordingly did; 
the Jews, in a pretended fright, came running, and asked, " what 
do you want, gentlemen?" " I want my wine," answered my 
brother. *' Take what is your own," replied a Jew, " but be- 
ware of touching my property, I have bought the wine." My 
brother attended the constable and runners into a cellar, and 
there found a great part of my wine. He wrote to Sir John 
Fielding that he had found the wine, and desired to know how 
he was to act. Fielding by a verbal message answered, " It 
must be taken by the owner." My brother accordingly got a 
cart, and sent for the wine. He attended the runners, likewise, 
to the house of another Jew, where they proceeded as before, 
and he came back quite rejoiced at having recovered the wine. 

Next day came a constable with a warrant, saying, "he 
wanted to speak with ray brother, and that it was to go to ray 



98 Life of Baron Trench.' 



friend. Sir John Fielding." When he was in the street, he 
touched him with his staff, and told him, " Sir, you are my pri- 
soner." Here it must be remarked, that no man can be arrested 
in his own house in London; but that, when in the street, and 
the constable has touched him with his staff, he is beyond 
delivery, and if he should run, would be stopped by the people. 

All this I was a spectator of through the windov/, unable to 
give any assistance. I went however to Sir John Fielding and 
asked what it all meant? This upright justice answered, in a 
magisterial tone, that my brother had been accused of felony. 
The Jews and swindlers had sworn the wine was a legal purchase. 
If I had not taken care to be paid, or was ignorant of the 
English laws, that was my fault. Six swindlers had sworn the 
wine was paid for; which circumstance he had not known, or he 
should not have granted me a warrant. My brother had also 
broken open doors, and forcibly taken away wine which was 
not his own. They had legally made oath of this, and he was 
charged with burglary and robbery. He further desired me im- 
mediately to give bail, in a thousand guineas, for my brother, 
for his appearance at the court of King's Bench, otherwise his 
trial would immediately come on, and in a few days he would 
be hanged. 

What was my rage at finding myself thus treated ! And how 
willingly would I have plunged my sword in the breast of a 
man so vile as this chief magistrate of London. I hastened to 
my wine merchants, who had stock in hand of wine, worth 
upwards of a thousand guineas. They gave bail for my brother, 
and in four days he was released. 

Fielding, in the interim, sent his runners to my house, took 
back the wine, and restored it to the Jews, as property of which 
they had been robbed. They threatend further to prosecute me 
as a receiver of stolen goods. I fled, in ail haste from London, 
through Dover, to Paris, where I immediately sold off my re- 
maining stock at half price, honored my bills, and so ended my 
merchandise. 

My brother returned to London in November, to defend his 



Life of Baron Tenck. 99 



cause in the court of King's Bench, but the swindlers had disap- 
peared, and the lawyer required a hundred pounds to proceed. 
The conclusion of all this, was, my brother returned with seventy 
pounds less in his pocket, spent as traveling expenses; and the 
stock, in the hands of my wine merchants, was detained on pre- 
tence of paying the bail. They also brought me in an apothe- 
caries' bill, and all was lost. Thus do the English treat the 
Germans, notwithstanding I had so many friends in London. 

I arrived on the 4th of April at Konigsberg, where my bro- 
ther impatiently awaited my arrival. We embraced as brothers 
must, after an absence of two and forty years. Of all the bro- 
thers I had left in this city, he only remained. He lived a 
retired and peaceable life on his own estates, fulfilling all the 
duties of a man. He had no children living. I continued a 
fortnight in company with him and his worthy wife, at Konigs- 
berg, with infinite satisfaction of heart, and afterwards went 
with him to his country seat, where 1 staid six weeks. 

Joyfully do I now journey to the shores of death. My duty 
fulfilled, my end attained, tranquility deserved. My conscience 
is void of reproach, posterity shall bless my memory, and only 
the unfeeling, the wicked, the confessor of princes, and the pious 
impostor, shall vent their rage against my writings. My few 
remaining hours of life shall be dedicated to the love of men. 
For my own part, my wants are few. My mind is desirous of 
repose, and should this be denied me, still I will not murmur. 
I now wish to steal gently, though not wholly unknown, toward 
that last asylum, whither, in my youth, if thither I went, it 
must be with colors flying. Grant, Almighty God, that the 
prayer I this day make may be heard; and that such may be 
the conclusion of my eventful life. 



100 Life of Baron Trench. 



CONCLUSION. 

I have, at this moment, occasion to add, now when this vol- 
eme is completed, that I was received with esteem and honor in 
my own country, superior to all that can be imagined by those 
who have not themselves been witness of the reception. Con- 
tent and happy, I journey back to Austria. The good king has 
done me justice, and heaped favors on me; I have received ray 
confiscated estates, and am in hourly expectation of the rents of 
which T have for years been deprived. More I sought not. A 
post of honor I can not there accept. Nobody shall accuse me 
in my old age of being selfish, or living detrimental to that state 
of which I have been six and thirty years a subject, although it 
has shamefully mistreated me, and continues still to repay me 
with ingratitude. I leave behind me a gracious monarch, who 
knows my heart; I leave the best of reputations, innocence un- 
doubted, and am convinced the Prussians love me, and will be 
the friends of my children. 

The object of my journey is accomplished; I can now, in the 
decline of life, enjoy honor and ease, as a good man should, and 
can meet death with a smile» 



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